Kindergarten-Grade 3-Through clear photographs and simple prose, Maass documents what happens to refuse. Moving from neighborhood trash cans to landfills to recycling centers, he provides a basic introduction to the topic of handling waste. Although the author only briefly mentions the problem of methane in landfills and ignores potential hazards of incineration, he devotes a full page to problems of hazardous waste disposal. This discussion and the instructions for composting appear on the last pages and have a more advanced vocabulary than that found in the body of the text. Students who want additional information might use Charlotte Wilcox's Trash! (Carolrhoda, 1988) or Paul Showers's Where Does the Garbage Go? (HarperCollins, 1994). A book that will fulfill a need in units on neighborhood workers and satisfy children's curiosity about what becomes of the garbage in the cans in the alley.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Maass' accomplishment? A handsome photoessay about garbage. The full-color photos, beautifully lit and composed, introduce children to the many stages of garbage, from its creation and curbside collection to its transportation and treatment. Each left-hand page features a photo or two, vivid against a background of another related, soft-focus photo, printed light enough to avoid distracting from the main picture. The backgrounds on the facing pages are solid colors, allowing for clear contrast with the readable text. The explanations are short, clear, and simple. References to ticker-tape parades and garbage barges may be unfamiliar to most children, but those outside New York City will find plenty here that applies to their own communities. The last two pages contain a longer text, which discusses disposal of hazardous waste and creating compost heaps. An attractive book that will be useful for introductory units on garbage and recycling. Carolyn Phelan
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