Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Steven Kroll
Illustrator:  Steve Cox 
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Marshall Cavendish, 2009   ISBN: 978-0761455707

Pinch is a pack rat who keeps everything. His little house is bulging with stuff. Old clothes, magazines, toys (and all kinds of junk) are spilling out of the windows of his house. One day the neighbors ask Pinch if he would donate some of his unwanted “stuff” to the neighborhood tag sale. Pinch doesn’t want to, even when Bumper Bunny and Heddy Hedgehog point out that Pinch has no room left in his home.

Pinch watches as animals walk past his home carrying items to the tag sale. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to sell some of what he has. Soon Pinch is busily selling toys, tools, books, and more. He makes a tidy sum of money. What should he do with his earnings? Should be buy some new stuff?

Sometimes it is hard for children to let go of things that they really don’t use or need anymore. This simple story will help even the most determined young pack rat to see that giving their unused “stuff” away is a good thing to do for themselves and for the planet. Who knew that giving things away can be good for the environment?