'Reducing Garbage,' 'Respecting Our World,' 'Reusing Things'

[September 16, 2009]  ^"Making a Difference" series: "Reducing Garbage," "Respecting Our World," "Reusing Things," by Sue Barraclough, Sea to Sea Publications, 30 pages each, ages 6-10

Review by
Louella Moreland

Author Sue Barraclough has put together three books to help children understand and assist in making our planet Earth a healthier place to live. Broken down mostly into two-page spread "chapters" that discuss a certain concept, the books are easily read by young people. They include "quizzes," indexes, glossaries and Web sites that make them useful resources for reports or home-schooled students. Photographs are large, colorful and interesting.

"Respecting Our World" concentrates on reasons why recycling, energy, air and water conservation are important. Readers are introduced to natural versus man-made materials and how these materials can help or hurt our planet. Most important, it brings this seemingly overwhelming task of helping our planet survive for future generations down to small, everyday choices we all can make that combined can be of tremendous benefit to our world.

"Reducing Garbage" expands on those small choices by explaining how the increase of "trash" can be reduced in many small ways. First of all, the terms "reducing" and "garbage" are discussed so that readers clearly understand the concepts the book will cover. Topics include ideas from reducing packaging to growing your own food. Using refillable packages or no-garbage lunchboxes may remind older readers of the way former generations thought of "packaging." After all, children who went to school in 1880 certainly didn't have prepackaged drink boxes, plastic wrap or paper lunch bags. It may be less convenient to take reusable containers to school, but isn't the extra time worth it for the planet?

"Reusing Things" expands on the book "Reducing Garbage" by advancing more ideas on how to reduce what is filling up our landfills at an alarming rate. It also may remind readers of the old saying "One man's junk is another man's treasure." While some of the ideas tend to be outlandish, others are certainly worth doing. Here one can be reminded of a time in our history (the Great Depression) where almost all items were recycled until there was nothing left to use.

Each volume can certainly stand alone, although the three together make a nice combination of facts and ideas. Written with simple vocabulary for early elementary students, the subjects can easily be expanded by using the Web sites or other books. These titles are an excellent introduction package for students or readers with an interest in the subjects.

All three of Barraclough's books contain the underlying message that however small the effort, it can make a difference, and we all have a responsibility to do something. Now is the time to train our children to consider alternatives on a daily basis, so that soon the idea of conservation becomes ingrained in our daily lives. Children may think the ideas are just plain fun. What a wonderful way to change the course of the future!

To find these volumes and others on similar topics, come by and see us at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin St.

[Text from file received from Louella Moreland, Lincoln Public Library District]

(Ms. Lou's blog: lincolnpubliclibraryupdates.blogspot.com)