Review: What a Waste

Infographic non-fiction tackling all aspects of recycling and protecting the environment.

What A Waste by Jess French

Girls might recognise TV vet Jess French, who presents the Minibeast Adventure with Jess on Cbeebies. Part of the Dorling Kindersley range of non-fiction with easy to understand infographics on topics such as household waste, fashion, single use plastic and conservation. The focus in on domestic life and things the reader can influence.

Loved by girls who are at all stages of their eco journey. Caters for readers who like the facts and figures, but plenty of practical ideas to try out at home. It’s presented in an unfussy way so those who are simply curious can browse. A good example of a reference book that girls will become familiar with as they go back and check information and suggestions.  

Themes- need to know, what you can change, eco-friendly actions in all settings, plastics, food waste, conservation and recycling.

How to get more out of it for keen readers

Keen readers will lap up the information pretty quickly and can be guided to some of the bigger questions here – Why do you think the chapters have been ordered in that way? What are the arguments for making a book about this and what are the alternatives? How have they tried to make producing this book as eco-friendly as possible? Which of these problems is the most significant? There’s plenty of action to take if your girl likes to implement herself or look to influence her friends. Of all the organisations signposted at the back, I find girls are most absorbed by those on food waste, including www.foodwise.com.au and plastic pollution.

How to get more out of it for social readers

This book is a gift for play dates or a regular book club with peers. With almost an unlimited amount of activities that can easily be done, readers feel informed and confident taking action. Good places to start include: recycling old t-shirts to tote bags, making dishes that can be frozen with leftovers or making a poster for the bathroom to help avoid water waste. Expect hoots of laughter when they discover the pages on recycling poo and how sanitation works! You can get more out of this by planning the day ahead with your girl so there’s minimal carbon foot print from the day. For ideas on reducing carbon footprint beyond the book, try https://climatekids.nasa.gov/how-to-help/

How to get more out of for reluctant readers

The range of infographics make it easy to dip in and out of different subjects; the images let reluctant readers get the big picture first and then read to seeker finer details. So much more encouraging that facing a page of blocky text! Like most non-fictions, the book can be read in any order too so plenty of flicking around til she finds the right route in for her. There is plenty of technical language but prompts and clues make this decodable so a good vocabulary building opportunity.

How to get more out of it for deepening connection

Some people are profoundly nature connected and it’s recognised as one of the different types of intelligence. If your girl is blessed with that, this book is going to be around how she can negotiate and influence change with other people who don’t feel as strongly. Looking at the way Greta Thunberg deals with indifference is an interesting model for how any young person can create change and build resilience when faced with blank faces. If your girl is beginning her eco-concious journey, this is a useful book to build conversations about values and how to practically turn those values into behaviours. Be prepared to be held to account, books like What A Waste make effective ammunition!

Where next? Environmental issues pack most news sources, particularly those aimed at the 9 – 12s. Building a habit of following daily news is a good follow on here. ‘Newsround’ or other trusted news sources are a good place to start and allow for great conversations about trustworthy sources and reading the news with a balanced view. For any particular issue raised in What  A Waste, there is a huge range of material; if she’s ready, this could be a good opportunity to guide her towards the websites of the big campaigning charities. For keen writers, there is a super range of templates here for infographics on any subject.

The Poppinery: using great books to stay connected.