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  • General Recommendations
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Keep Cincinnati Beautiful - Waste Reduction

A key part of waste "reduction" is "conservation"—using natural resources wisely, and using less than usual in order avoid waste. Children can learn all the ways to send less stuff to the landfill through the practice of the 4 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, & Rot. These book recommendations are a complement to Keep Cincinnati Beautiful's environmental education videos and presentations.

Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

70 items

  • GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Keb’ Mo' explains the importance of caring for our planet. His book brings his message to life as a bear and his animal friends wander the forest collecting discarded items that have been left behind.
    Picture BookOakville, ON : Flowerpot Press, [2021] — Easy
  • How to Make a Better World

    for Every Kid Who Wants to Make a Difference

    Swift, Keilly,
    This fun and inspiring guide to making the world a better place and becoming a good citizen is packed with ideas and tips for kids who want to know how to make a difference.
    BookNew York, NY : Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 2020. — 303.484 qS977 2020
  • A young video game-loving boy finds an actual invasion taking place right outside his door when his sea creature neighbors need his help solving a big plastic pollution problem.
    Picture BookToronto : Kids Can Press, 2021. — Easy
  • This Book Is Not Garbage

    50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Trash, and Save the World!

    Thomas, Isabel, 1979-
    Shares practical tips and project instructions for helping the environment by reducing waste, from avoiding straws and glitter to hosting a plastic-free birthday party.
    Book[New York] : Random House Children's Books, [2018] — 363.735 T457g 2018
  • A nonfiction STEM picture book about the threat of plastic and how kids are combating environmental challenges.
    BookNew York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. — 363.738 qH777 2021
  • Kids Fight Plastic

    How to Be a #2minutesuperhero

    Dorey, Martin,
    Combines helpful facts and vibrant graphic art in a guide to how everyday kids can help the environment by combating plastic waste, outlining recommendations for earth-friendly practices and advocating for a cleaner world at home.
    BookSomerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2020. — 363.7288 D695 2020
  • Young readers will learn about environmental conservation, along with simple things they can do to help care for the planet like recycling and reducing energy consumption.
    Picture BookNew York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2020] — Easy
  • Green Machine

    the Slightly Gross Truth About Turning Your Food Scraps Into Green Energy

    Donnelly, Rebecca,
    Describes how food waste is collected and processed in waste plants to make biogas, a byproduct which can be used to supply electrical energy to power plants.
    BookNew York : Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2020. — 631.875 qD685 2020
  • When Minna has a school assignment to make a poster about recycling, her entire rabbit family spends the week practicing various kinds of recycling and suggesting ideas for her poster.
    Picture BookNew York : Marshall Cavendish, c2003. — Easy
  • Uses color illustrations and simple text to explore the importance and benefits of recycling bottles, cans, plastic, clothes, and paper.
    BookHauppauge, N.Y. : Barron's, 2005. — 363.7282 G796 2005
  • This Book Stinks!

    Gross Garbage, Rotten Rubbish, and the Science of Trash

    Flynn, Sarah Wassner,
    Explores the types of trash and what can be done with them, including creating such projects as art exhibits, a plastic bottle sprinkler, recycled houses, and fuel for cars.
    BookWashington, D.C. : National Geographic, [2017] — 363.728 qF648 2017
  • What a Waste

    Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet

    French, Jess,
    This educational book will teach young budding ecologists about how our actions affect planet Earth and the big impact we can make by the little things we do.
    BookNew York, NY : DK Publishing, 2019. — 363.7 qF874 2019
  • What a Waste

    Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet

    French, Jess
    This educational book will teach young budding ecologists about how our actions affect planet Earth and the big impact we can make by the little things we do.
    eBookDK, 2019
  • When Miss Lois's class goes green, Grace and Mimi, for their project, aim to inspire their friends and classmates to conserve plastic bottles.
    BookBoston, Mass. : Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009. — Fiction
  • When Miss Lois's class goes green, Grace and Mimi, for their project, aim to inspire their friends and classmates to conserve plastic bottles.
    eBookHarperCollins, 2009
  • All That Trash

    the Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem With Stuff

    McCarthy, Meghan,
    Recounts the story of a garbage barge that didn't have a place to dock-- and was one of the events that led to the recycling movement.
    BookNew York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2018] — 386.244 qM687Zm 2018
  • All That Trash

    The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem with Stuff

    McCarthy, Meghan
    Recounts the story of a garbage barge that didn't have a place to dock-- and was one of the events that led to the recycling movement.
    eBookSimon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2018
  • What does it really mean to be green? The answers might surprise you! From turning off the water while you brush your teeth to walking to the park instead of driving, and even recycling or reusing old artwork, there are all kinds of things…
    BookNaperville, Illinois : Little Pickle Press, [2021] — 640.286 D593 2021
  • What does it really mean to be green? The answers might surprise you! From turning off the water while you brush your teeth to walking to the park instead of driving, and even recycling or reusing old artwork, there are all kinds of things…
    eBookSourcebooks, 2010
  • A little plastic bottle shares the story of his trip from the refinery, through his manufacture and use, to his eventual recycling and new use as a space suit.
    Picture BookNew York : Little Simon, ©2009. — Easy