Join the No-plastic Challenge! By Scot Ritchie
A First Book of Reducing Waste
SPublished by Kids Can Press, 2019 Grades: Pre-k To 2 / Ages: 4 to 7
cot Richie’s latest children’s book is another entertaining and informative story that teaches kids what plastic is, how the widespread use of it is harmful to the environment and includes tips on how kids can reduce their use of plastic.
A group of children are invited to their friend Nick’s birthday party. Nick has given them a challenge: to spend the whole day without using singleuse plastics. The book consists of 15 chapters, each with a few lines of the story at the top left, with an explanation of key terms and ideas underneath. For example, the first chapter deals with Nick’s challenge of not using single-use plastics, and underneath is a description of what these type of plastics are.
The book explains that plastic is everywhere in our lives, from the toys kids play with to plastic cutlery and straws. Alternatives to plastic, such as wrapping food in wax paper and using glass jars for storage are suggested. Kids and adults can plan ahead when bringing food, for example, and bring reusable cutlery and dishes.
The illustrations depict the children excitedly getting together to go to Nick’s beach party while making sure they do not use any single-use plastics. The author explains that it can take 500 years for plastic to degrade, and even then, it can still pollute our water, soil and animal life. Plastic ends up in the ocean and fish often eat it, and birds bring plastic to their young, causing them to ingest it instead of food.
The chapter What is Plastic? describes the entire process of how plastic is made from crude oil and natural gas (fossil fuels) until it ends up heated and molded into plastic products we use. The author points out that more manufacturers are finding better ways to avoid using plastic.
Nick’s friends have avoided using plastic all day as they have fun at the beach, even using kites and streamers made of natural materials instead of balloons. At the end of the book, the author challenges kids to go a day without using single-use plastics. He also suggests they issue a challenge to their schools, stores and restaurants to do the same.
A glossary of Words to Know is found at the back of the book, with useful terms such as biodegradable, microplastics and recycle.
The book is a thorough and engaging story about what plastic is, how it is harmful to our environment, and how everyone can work together to reduce and avoid using single-use plastics. Reviewed by
Caroline Lacombe