Operation: Reuse It! (Garbology Kids). Sabbithry Persad. Illustrated by Jenny Campbell. Toronto, ON: Eco Adventures/Firewater Media Group, 2011. 40 pp., pbk., $8.95. ISBN 978-0-9812439-1-7. Subject Heading: Recycling (Waste, etc.)-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Suzanne Pierson. **** /4

excerpt:

"I didn't realize these old things could be useful to someone else. Either way, with my back pains, I haven't been able to upkeep this house," Mr. Ogilvy told them.

"Maybe we could help sort through everything and find ways to reuse what you have," offered Adam.

This second book in the "Garbology Kids" series has the same author, Sabbithry Persad, as the first book in the series, Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?, but a different illustrator, Jenny Campbell. Campbell's illustrations are as ethnically inclusive as the previous book and very colourful and animated.

      Together, Persad and Campbell have created a very informative story that will help young readers understand how easy it is to find a multitude of ways to reuse old or unneeded objects. The plot involves a group of children who find ways to help an older man clear out his garage and fix up his house while finding many new uses for the former 'junk'. The story is told through text, dialogue, and illustrations. Additional information about reusing is included on most pages. For example,

ALERT!
Before donating or selling items, check with your city's health department to make sure they have not been recalled.

      In addition to the story about creating an art studio in Mr. Ogilvy's garage, Operation: Reuse It! also includes seven pages of support material at the end of the book, including "Fun Reuse Facts", "For Reflection" (questions), "Be a Social Entrepreneur" (activities to promote action), "Experiments and Activities", "Closing the Loop" (about the second R – Reuse), and "Notes to Parents, Teachers and Librarians". These additional materials may provide the support needed to turn good intentions into good actions.

      Operation: Reuse It! is a very good addition to the group of books designed to increase awareness of the impact of our behaviour on the environment and the steps that can be taken by everyone, including students, to reduce that impact.

Highly Recommended.

Suzanne Pierson is a retired teacher-librarian, currently instructing Librarianship courses at Queen's University in Kingston, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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