Zero Waste: How One Community Is Leading a World Recycling Revolution

Drummond expands his Green Power series with this inspiring account of the citizens of Kamikatsu, Japan, and their zero-waste goal. Two children’s visit to see their proverb-loving grandmother provides framing for the narrative. During the visit, the trio sort trash into varied bins—nine for different paper types, six for varied plastic materials, five for metal, six for glass—providing insight into Kamikatsu’s real-life pledge to reduce, reuse, or recycle all waste. Lengthy sidebars offer context and definitions, while narration and speech bubbles educate and persuade: “Recycling? I’m too old for that!” reads one bubble. “Chiritsumo! A journey begins with the first step,” Grandma replies in the main text. Loosely marked art has calligraphy-like movement and flair. Appropriately focused on community members, illustrations showcase the story’s emphasis on how working together can help solve even seemingly impossible environmental problems. An author’s note, references, and photos append. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)