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Essay Name       : 551.txt 
Uploader         : Christy
Email Address    : 
Language         : english
Subject          : Education
Title            : Mrs. Katz and Tush
Grade            : graduate school
School System    : Maryland
Country          : USA
Author Comments  : review of children's book
Teacher Comments : A, well written
Date             : 11/3/96
Site found at    : browsing
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Bailey, D. (1991).  What we can do about litter.  New York:  Franklin Watts.

	What we can do about litter is a book designed to educate children about litter, why
it is a problem, and how they can help to eliminate the problem.  This book is very well
constructed and is extremely concise.  Each aspect of litter discussed is divided into a topic
and is clearly labeled with headings. This allows the reader to learn in a step-by-step
progression from what litter is, to the activities they can do themselves to help eliminate this
problem.  
	The author starts out by clearly defining litter as “trash that has been dropped
carelessly, or has not been collected and put in a garbage can.”  She explains that it is not
just one person creating this litter problem, but it is a culmination of many people and
businesses.  The book then goes on to show the different environments where litter is a
problem and gives examples in cities, countrysides, the ocean and beachfront areas. 
	Throughout these topics, there are bolded key words such as “recycled,” “illegal
dumping,” “health hazard,” and “biodegrade”  that can easily be looked up in the book’s
glossary.  In addition, the table of contents and subheadings provide quick reference and
ease of reading. The book is very user friendly for teachers as well as the independent
young reader.  
	The author demonstrates how litter can affect people in cities, but her emphasis is 
how it affects the wildlife in the countryside, rivers and lakes.  “Every year, thousands of
small animals die when they get trapped in bottles and cans.”  She also tells of how animals
can be poisoned by carelessly discarded cans that held paint and other chemicals.  “Litter
thrown into rivers and lakes is just as dangerous.  Many wild duck and geese die because
careless fishermen leave bits of fishing tackle line in the water and nylon fishing lines get
wound around the ducks’ beaks.”  
	Throughout the book there are many pictures of litter, the different areas it occurs,
and the profound effects of littering. The pictures are very graphic and emphasize the
magnitude of the problem. Photos such as a seal trapped in a fishing net will have a lasting
impression on children. The book could have been even more forceful and created a
greater impact on the reader if the author had used more facts, such as the number of tons
of litter collected or recycled each year.  
	The next portion of the book is dedicated to “clearing up the mess.”  The author
describes the different people who help clean up litter such as sanitation workers in cities,
and voluntary groups such as conservation organizations in the countryside.   The author
writes of the need to educate people about the dangers of littering and says we must teach
people to respect the world in which we live.  
	The last part of the book tells the reader that “it is up to you!”  It goes on to explain
the things we, as readers, can do to prevent litter.  The author gives some rules that must
be followed when cleaning up litter and gives suggestions of how the readers can organize
anti-litter campaigns and activities to include people in their schools and neighborhoods.
	Litter is an important subject of which students and people of all ages need to be
made aware. This book was designed to teach children who may not understand the
concept or definition of litter about the problems litter creates and the effects it has on all
living creatures.  The text in the book seems to have been carefully chosen so that children
can easily relate to the problem.  At one point the author writes, “no one like friends and
visitors to drop pieces of paper, banana peels and soda cans in their homes.”  The author
does a good job of guiding the reader through the entire progression of litter problems and
then offers effective solutions that can easily be implemented by individuals, no matter
what age.   
	I believe that the illustrations and educational format are the primary reasons why
this book is so effective.  It is very appealing to the young reader and the suggestions for
intervention can easily be carried out, allowing the children to become involved and learn
from the activities and experiences presented as well as from the book itself. The teacher
can incorporate this book into a variety of subjects and lessons, most obviously in the earth
science curriculum. The book would help to demonstrate the effects of  littering in terms of
pollution to land, air and water, as well as its effects on animals and humans. Simple
experiments and activities could take place in the classroom and on short field trips to local
parks, shopping centers, the local dump, etc. 
	Social studies is another subject area where this book could be used. Children will
learn about their government laws regarding litter and their responsibility as citizens to their
community and environment. Group discussion could be followed up by a clean-up activity
that may involve both children and their families.   
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