What a Waste! Where Does Garbage Go? by Claire Eamer

Rated E for Everyone

When you throw something away, where exactly is ‘away’?

Ever since our ancient relatives cracked open clamshells for dinner, humans have made garbage, and we’ve had to figure out what to do with it. Today, we’re producing more garbage than ever: there’s trash in the ocean, on top of mountains, and even in space!

In this book, you’ll explore the strange and fascinating stories that garbage tells. Along the way, you’ll meet people with smart ideas for reducing and reusing garbage.

I know I say this about a lot of books but this book should be required reading in schools. Not just elementary schools, all schools. And not just at schools, adults should read this book too. And have it read over and over so people will get the point. It’s important for people to learn where their garbage goes after they throw it away. Trash doesn’t go away. It just goes somewhere. And it builds up high and higher.

This book is full of information on where trash goes after we throw it ‘away’. It’s pretty amazing what people did in the olden days to get rid of their trash. Mostly disgusting ways. For example, throwing it into the streets.

One important point I want to make is about recycling. My family recycles a lot. My mom recycled before it was popular. We recycle metal cans, plastic bottles, and glass containers. We collect rainwater and use it to water out plants. I don’t understand why some people don’t recycle. It’s not that hard and it keeps what can be used again out of the landfill. Any kids who are reading this please recycle. Think twice before throwing that water bottle into the trash or on the ground.

For television shows about recycling and trash, check out the following:

Cyberchase, a children’s show on PBS kids, Trash Creep. In this episode the Cyber Squad learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Magic School Bus, Family Holiday Special: In this Holiday episode, Ms. Frizzle’s class learns what would happen if recycling didn’t exist.

I’m hoping that anyone out there reading this review will pick up this book and learn something about garbage. I learned so much and I hope you do too.

The Day the Crayons Quit & The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt

Preschool and Kindergarten

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!

Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other.

What is Duncan to do?

This book is extremely creative and unique. Crayons writing letters to their owner complaining about being used too much or not being used enough and more. As an artist I know that some colors are used more than others.

The artwork is perfectly childish and the crayons themselves are adorable.

Duncan’s crayons sure are a colorful bunch of characters. Having soothed the hurt feelings on one group who threatened to quit, Duncan now faces a whole new group of crayons asking to be rescued.

From Maroon Crayon, who was lost beneath the sofa cushions and then broken in two after Dad sat on him: to Turquoise, whose head is now stuck to one of Duncan’s stinky socks after they ended up in the dryer together.

This story features the lesser known/used crayons you get in those 96 crayon boxes.

You know all those crayons you lose when you’re on vacation or at a restaurant or when they roll under the bed and you’re too lazy to get them. This story shows what crayons go through when we forget about them.

It’s hard to believe that this book is even more unique than the last one.

And just for fun here’s a Baby Blues comic featuring crayons:

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt

Preschool and Kindergarten

The epic tale of the classic game Rock, Paper, Scissors.

You’ve played the game. Now read the legend of how it all began…

I found this book at Barnes and Nobles and it is just hilarious. It might not be as hilarious as ‘Walter the Farting Dog’ but just as amusing. I definitely recommend this book for story time at elementary schools. I still don’t get how Paper beats Rock but whatever.

Since this is my blog and I can talk about whatever I want I decided to take the opportunity to introduce you to a difference version of Rock, Paper, Scissors. It’s called…

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

This is a version of the tradition game created by some guy on the Internet and talked about on The Big Bang Theory.

Here are the rules:

Scissors cuts Paper

Paper covers Rock

Rock crushes Lizard

Lizard poisons Spock

Spock smashes Scissors

Scissors decapitates Lizard

Lizard eats Paper

Paper disproves Spock

Spock vaporizes Rock

…And as it always has Rock crushes Scissors

Now I would like to sidetrack to talk about something important. While on YouTube, I found a boy named Ethan who has leukemia who does a book vlog. He has a video that explains what he’s doing so below is a link to his YouTube channel and his website:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzk7x84DQi01lA0trr7ZZ3Q/featured

https://ethanandchocosbookclub.com

In a nutshell, Ethan wants to build a SUPER library at the CHOC hospital so all the kids at the hospital will have books to read. He also wants to start a read-aloud program in patient rooms and common spaces where kids spend time.

I immediately like this kid because he’s a fellow book lover like me. I read a lot of books when I was younger but not as many as this kid. I’m watching all of his book reviews and there are 366 of them. I’m hoping to review as many books as he has but it might take awhile since I only update my blog every Saturday and in 2016 Ethan reviewed a different book every day for his Daily Book Look Challenge. The books Ethan reviews are books that he hopes to get donated to his hospital library.

After learning about Ethan and Choco’s Book Club (ECBC) I decided to donate to the CHOC hospital library. It’s not hard to do. They’ve created a Wish List on Amazon where books can be purchased, donated, and sent directly to ECBC. See link below:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/BLD7UEVPPPO/ref=cm_sw_su_w

And since this book is on Ethan’s Wish List I’m donating this one. I’m hoping to donate more in the future but it’s hard to decide which books because there are hundreds of books on his Wish List. Anyone reading this, please consider donating to this wonderful cause.