Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day?
In our house, this is a question that gets asked a lot for some reason. My little one loved talking through this book and everything the characters do. Depending on the audience, the book really might be able to expose a little one to all sorts of jobs and activities in the world and expand their imagination. The book can truly be educational too, as a lot of the illustrations have labels on different things or activities (though the rotary phone isn’t labeled, which is awesome). Just be warned, talking through that part of the book can take just as long as reading the stories, but my little one loved it and I believe learned a lot from that part of the book. The illustrations might be the best part of this book, as they are well drawn, and super busy with things and activities. My little one took forever on every page pointing out and talking through all the things she found.
And personally, it brought back some vague happy childhood memories... If I recall correctly, I saw these guys on Saturday mornings, especially Lowly Worm and his applecopter.
Cautions: The book was written in the 70s when a lot of different things people might be sensitive to today weren’t a big deal. So, there are no bike helmets, little kids sometimes work with fire, cars crash, boats sink, and Wild Bill Hiccup and his Buffalomobile is a weird Indian stereotype.
