Paper

Children's Literature - Sylvia Firth

This book is part of the series titled "Recycling." The content totally lacks individuality and follows a trite formula, even to using the same words on the same pages in each volume. On additional pages, the text is altered only by whatever the topic happens to be. This makes it extremely difficult to present a specific review for each title. Furthermore, another series by the author with the same titles and covers is available from Macmillan Press. Two pages are used to discuss such subjects as what recycling is; throwing away or recycling; how products are recycled; reducing waste; school recycling; how animals are helped by recycling; whether recycling is the best solution; recycling methods and instructions for individual recycling projects. Page five in each book contains the same photo of a truck dumping trash in a landfill. All have a glossary, an index, charts and clear colored photographs that help define the text. While material on this important topic is needed, purchase is not recommended. Other far superior materials such as Recycle! : A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons and Where Does the Garbage Go?: Revised Edition by Paul Showers are worthwhile additions to collections. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth

Children's Literature

Packed into this 32-page book in the "Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, Rethink" series are tips and tidbits to help young readers understand the processes and implications involved in the recycling of paper. The book makes excellent use of text, photographs, graphics, and sidebars to convey important information. The author explains why recycling is important as world populations continue to grow exponentially. She also gives readers a brief history of paper making and an understandable explanation of the paper recycling process. Readers are warned against the dangers of not recycling paper, due to the loss of a large number of trees, an upsurge in dangerous greenhouse gasses, and an increase in chemical pollution brought about by the creation of new paper. The book offers messages of hope by explaining what governments, industries, communities, and individuals are doing to recycle and reduce the paper waste they produce. Examples include a Costa Rican company that makes paper out of banana tops instead of trees and a high school in Australia that has recycled 55,115 tons of paper in twelve years, saving an equivalent of more than 650,000 trees! This highly informative book includes a decomposition timeline, table of contents, glossary, and an index. The only thing that would make it better is a bibliography or list of additional resources. Elementary and middle school science teachers and librarians serving this age group will do their students a favor by making this book available to them. 2005, Smart Apple Media, Ages 9 to 12.
—Ramirose Attebury Wendt