Trabajadores de nuestra comunidad (Helpers in Our Community)

We use machines every day, but most of us don't understand how they work. When they break down, most of us have no idea how to fix them. Mechanics are the masters of machines. Readers learn that mechanics work on vehicles, including cars, boats, and buses. They use special tools to take them apart and fix what's wrong, and they use their experience and technology to diagnose problems. They often work long hours, sometimes in bad weather, to get us where we need to go. Your readers will see that mechanics keep our world moving and growing.

Who doesn't love a bakery? Few people can resist the smell of cookies and pies baking or keep from staring at the beautifully decorated cakes. Behind the counter is the person responsible for all this goodness. Your readers learn that bakers not only provide us with breads and rolls and satisfy our sweet tooth, they learn about health, nutrition, and science to produce their delicious recipes. Some bakers spend their careers in local bakeries, making treats for birthdays and weddings. Others work in manufacturing facilities that mass-produce baked goods for grocery stores. Wherever they work, bakers keep us well fed and put a smile on our faces. Colorful photographs of bakers at work help readers make a connection with the fun and informative narrative.

If you've ever tried to cut your own hair, you probably found out quickly that it's much more difficult than it looks. Barbers are professionals trained to cut and style hair. They've spent thousands of hours learning how to do their job. Readers learn that a good barber makes their clients comfortable while they do their work and tries to make sure everyone leaves happy. For some people, going to the barber is an opportunity to socialize with other customers while getting their hair cut. Everyone should leave the barber shop feeling good about themselves, as your readers certainly will.

Sports are a huge part of American culture. Many people pick favorite teams and cheer for them through thick and thin, and many students play on sports teams in their community. One reason teams do well is because of their coaches. Coaches help athletes become everything they want to be and empower young people to figure out their strengths. They study different strategies and motivate people to do their best. Coaches encourage people to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. Sporty photographs of coaches in real-life situations help readers remember important facts from the narrative.

Each community has a variety of different buildings of all shapes and sizes. We don't usually stop to think about who put those buildings there. We often don't even think about who built our own house. Your readers will learn important concepts; construction workers are the reason we have places to live and work. They're the reason we have roads to get from one place to another. They work with other building professionals to build structures that people and businesses need. Construction workers keep our communities growing and thriving.

Millions of kids ride a bus to school every day, and many people ride buses to get around town. Bus drivers are a vital part of our community because they're the ones responsible for transporting students and other people safely. Your readers learn that bus drivers spend hours training to drive large vehicles and learn traffic rules. They know what to do in an emergency and how to keep everyone calm. Many bus drivers get to know their riders well. Bus drivers are a big reason why riding the bus is one of the safest ways to get to school.

Many years ago, most of the U.S. population lived on farms and produced their own food to eat. Now, only 2 percent of the population produces food for the entire world. Readers will learn that farmers are responsible for the fruits, vegetables, and meat we buy in the grocery store, and the ingredients that go into many other things. They often use technology to help them produce these things. Some farmers research ways to keep their animals comfortable and healthy. Because of farmers, we can have fresh, nutritious food on our plates every day. Help your readers learn to appreciate the work behind what we enjoy.

About 70 percent of all goods transported in the United States are transported by trucks. Truck drivers are responsible for transporting food and other products across the country to the people who need them. They work long hours and need to have special training to drive their huge trucks. Truck drivers keep businesses going and make sure we get the things we need. Instructive, colorful photographs of truck drivers on the job help readers make meaningful connections to the informative and fun narrative.