So You Want To Be A Veterinarian (So You Want To Be A...)

"So You Want To Be A Veterinarian is part of a series for children on exciting and worthwhile careers. Without talking down to young readers, Linda Soules emphasizes that love for animals and scientific accuracy are necessary to succeed in this profession. She explains that vets help animals to live healthier lives. They treat all kinds of animals, from pets to farm animals, and wild animals in zoos and nature preserves. Because animals cannot speak directly, vets have to pay careful attention to their behavior for signs to discover what is wrong. Vets also need to listen to pet parents and animal carers, who know their animals' behavior best. The carefully organized chapters guide readers through the work vets do, the locations where they work, the tools they use, and a typical day in their lives.

So You Want To Be A Veterinarian by Linda Soules is well researched and addresses the practical and emotional demands of this career. The concise biographies of famous vets like James Herriot, Aleen Cust, and Temple Grandin will inspire and challenge young readers. The colorful illustrations add lifelike details that are very appealing. With a glossary, lists of books for further reading, and websites and organizations for more information, the book is a useful reference that kids will grow with. There are some practical tips for getting started, such as observing animals, studying basic biology, and volunteering at a shelter. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a vet, including kids, parents, and educators."

"One of nearly 200 books in the So You Want to Be A... series, So You Want to Be A Veterinarian walks readers through everything they could possibly want to know about a career in veterinary medicine.

What is it really like being a vet and caring for animals every day? Well, vets work with animals of all shapes and sizes, from tiny hamsters to enormous elephants and giraffes, which means they sometimes have to be willing to work in unusual locations. Animals can't tell you what's wrong, so vets need extraordinary powers of deduction—including the ability to talk to animals!

And vets don't just care for animals—they care for the people who own and love those animals too. Sometimes the job is filled with fun and laughter, but sometimes it is heartbreaking—like when a beloved pet needs to be put down. No matter what the job holds, however, vets love knowing that they are providing a service neither humans nor animals could do without.

The book provides detailed, factual descriptions about the highs and lows of the job, the skills and training needed to succeed, and even what a typical day on the job might look like. Bright cartoon-style illustrations depict vets of different genders, ages, and ethnicities delivering care to a range of animals all over the globe, underscoring the book's central message about the diversity of care that veterinary doctors provide. A self-diagnostic checklist, suggestions for getting their career started early, and plenty of resources for further learning provide readers with a practical roadmap for becoming a vet if, after reading, they feel this is the career for them.

For any child who loves animals, So You Want to Be a Veterinarian is the perfect starting place for fueling big career dreams."

"Soules celebrates the scope and heart of veterinary work in this continuation of her informative series aimed at helping young readers explore potential career paths (following So You Want to Be an Astronaut). Being a veterinarian isn't 'just about animals,' she writes, 'it's about the love between animals and the people who need them.' That's certainly a high calling, and Soules makes it clear that vets put in long hours and strenuous work as part of their job. Whether relaying the heartbreaking news that a beloved pet won't recover or chasing a runaway hamster through a clinic, this inspiring picture book gives kids an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a successful veterinarian.

Soules explains the core tasks of veterinary work—treating injuries, delivering physical checkups, performing surgeries, administering medications—as well as the more nuanced skills required, like learning how to speak the language of different species to understand when they are in pain. 'Veterinary medicine requires the breadth that human medicine would require if doctors were trained to treat every mammal simultaneously,' she writes, underscoring how veterinarians must be dedicated, willing to learn, and eager to experience something new every single day.

The most delightful sections are the real-life anecdotes sharing some of veterinary science's funniest moments: a parrot screaming for help during an exam, a sunburned lizard, a cat wearing a tissue box as a helmet—such tales will make readers of any age giggle....Kids will appreciate the fun facts included at the book's end (cats purr to help their bodies heal; a horse's heart can weigh over 10 pounds!), and Soules offers a range of starter activities for those readers whose interest is piqued by this factual offering.

Takeaway: Heartfelt, informative tribute to the dedication of veterinarians."

"It takes deep love for animals, lots of heart, and patience. You have to have an inquisitive mind and like mysteries, like a detective. Animals cannot talk to us... You have to watch and observe everything to see what is wrong."

"It covers everything: from a day in the life, tools vets use, fun facts, famous veterinarians, and even ideas for kids interested in becoming a vet. It truly feels like a complete introduction to the career."

"This book provides a realistic look at what being a vet is like and the different types of vets, helping kids make educated decisions about whether this would be a good career choice for them."

"The emphasis on the tough aspects of veterinary medicine — euthanasia, aging, talking to families about expensive treatments — is a difficult but important part of the consideration on whether this job could be a good fit."

"I appreciated how the author detailed the career as not just animal-serving but people-serving as well. Using simple words, digestible concepts, and colorful art, the author did a wonderful job conveying the elements of the career."

"Such an educational read! This book is perfect for kids who want to know what it takes to be a veterinarian in the real world. With informative parts on what a daily schedule looks like, tools of the trade, fun facts, and famous veterinarians, this book is a real page turner. I believe every child who's a real animal lover can take something away from this book!"

"If you have a preteen or teen thinking about being a veterinarian they should read this...This book is perfect for a 10 to 14 year old who may want to be a veterinarian when they grow up... I would even read this to my 8 yr old."

"Great book to introduce some of the fun and challenging aspects of being a veterinarian. I appreciate a book that (age) appropriately addresses the difficult areas of a profession without diminishing the wonderment of said profession. My 8 year old struggled to understand some of the terminology, but the glossary toward the end was helpful. This book really brought out her curiosity and she was asking many follow-up questions. She was excited to see that there were other recommended books she could read to learn even more."

"I wish I had seen books like this in my younger days. It was great in telling what a job as a veterinarian is really like. Plus, everything to get you there. I would recommend this book to anyone that knows of a child that dreams of being a veterinarian!!"

"The writing is amazing and quite direct. It has the proper language usage for the age group. It does not baby, nor talk over their heads, and that is important if you want to capture the child's attention....The images in this book are beautiful. They add to the information in the book instead of distracting the reader. The realistic pictures can help a child visualize what each specialty offers....This is a well crafted book designed to help a child explore different careers without the added stress of hard to understand phrasing, images that do not flow with the text, and too much information. This is just one book in her series that I think could be a huge interest and benefit to adolescents."

"True, sweet, heartfelt. This was such an interesting and encouraging read for a kid thinking about becoming a veterinarian. The book gives a realistic look at the career while still being inspiring and easy to follow. I appreciated how it explained both the challenges and rewards of working with animals. Great resource for students, animal lovers, or anyone curious about the veterinary field!"

"Another great book in the series to explore careers. Great illustrations, thoughts and ideas to make any future vet curious and wanting to know more."

"As someone who's worked in veterinary medicine for 25+ years... every part of the book hit the nail on the head perfectly. It was very well researched."

"As a veterinary professional, I found it to be a perfect introduction to the profession and is honest about the good and some of the tough parts of the job; it's not all puppies and kittens."

"Very well written and for a wide age range of audiences. I would recommend this book to any child or young person wanting to be a veterinarian. It's also great for older people who want to learn what a veterinarian actually does. I loved the vibrant pictures that tell a story all by themselves."

"The author has perfectly written and provided thorough insight into the field. The colorful depictions of the human – animal dynamic were effective. The advice on getting started was valuable for youngsters seeking to become veterinarians."

"As someone who has worked in veterinary medicine, I feel like this book gives an accurate description of becoming a veterinarian. It discusses the positives as well as the hardships that come with the occupation. I think if a young animal lover read this book, it could inspire them to turn that love into a career!"

"When anyone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grow up , I would say a veterinarian. I have always had a deep passion for animals! I picked this book just to see what I was missing when I didn't choose this route. Everything in the book has taken me back as to why I wanted to be one in the first place!"

"Great overview of being a veterinarian (wildlife, farm, small animals, etc.) for my 12 year old niece who loves animals and has said she wants to be a vet since she was 5. Illustrations are adorable. Lots of real information, from the best, worst and most surprising parts of the job, the tools and skills needed. My niece kept saying 'Ohhhh, I didn't think of that,' as she read it. She loved it and said she'll read it over and over again."

"This book is so good for an older child or young teen who has an interest in veterinary medicine. It is very informative, but in plain language that is easy to understand, and the information seems accurate. The illustrations are beautifully detailed, and the inclusion of additional reading/resources at the end is a great touch."

"A wonderful little book! I like that it’s honest about the trade, from good to bad! It sheds light on the joys of being a vet, as well as the difficult parts. This is a good inside look at what it’s like being a vet for any kid interested in becoming one!"

"So many children's books about professions provide a glamorized version, giving false impressions of a career. Not these books."

"I read this book with my daughter and we enjoyed it together. She loves animals, so this really kept her interested. The book did a good job explaining what being a veterinarian is in a way that was easy for kids to understand. It was fun seeing her ask questions and get excited while reading. I think it’s a great book for kids who love animals or dream about helping and caring for them one day."

"There are books that talk down to children, and there are books that trust them. *So You Want to Be a Veterinarian* firmly belongs to the second category, and that is what makes it special.

From its opening dedication, "For every kid who ever whispered to a scared animal it's going to be okay," this book knows exactly who it is talking to and why. It meets young animal lovers where they are emotionally, then takes them somewhere genuinely deeper. The writing is warm but never condescending, and it covers the full reality of veterinary work with a honesty that most kids' books would shy away from. The hard parts are here too, including the quiet, heavy appointments that "take something from you that doesn't fully return." That kind of truth, handled with care, is what elevates this above a simple career introduction.

The content is surprisingly rich. The book walks readers through the remarkable breadth of veterinary medicine, from small animal clinics to zoo vets coaxing trust from gorillas, to wildlife vets releasing rehabilitated hawks back into the wild. It explains why the job is uniquely demanding, since a vet must become fluent across dozens of species with radically different anatomy, physiology, and needs. And it makes a compelling case that reading a patient who cannot speak is one of the most sophisticated forms of diagnostic thinking in all of medicine. Adults who pick this up will likely learn something they didn't know.

The humor is perfectly placed. The parrot screaming "HELP! HELP!" during a routine checkup, the Labrador terrified of the scale, the cat wearing a tissue box as a helmet into the clinic. These moments breathe life into the book and keep younger readers completely engaged.

One genuine standout is the visual presentation. The graphics and illustrations don't just decorate the pages; they actively tell the story alongside the text. For a subject that is so deeply visual, with animals communicating through posture, movement, and expression, the artwork does real work in helping young readers understand what the words describe.

A note on reading level: this book is best suited for middle grade readers, roughly ages 9 to 12, or for families reading together. Younger children may find some passages challenging, but that also makes it an ideal read-aloud book, the kind where a parent and child can pause, look at the pictures, and talk through what they just learned. For any child with a passion for animals, it is the kind of book that plants a seed.

**Rating: 5 out of 5**

A rare children's book that respects its readers enough to tell them the whole truth, and beautiful enough to make them love every page of it."

"So You Want To Be A Veterinarian is an engaging and informative book for kids who love animals and dream of caring for them professionally. It does a great job of explaining what veterinarians do and the skills needed to succeed in the field. The content is easy to understand, inspiring, and encourages young readers to explore their passion for animal care."

"The illustration and art work is simply amazing. My 4 year old is autistic with a learning curve but he enjoys us reading this series to him. He loves animals so this one really kept his attention!"