Richie’s Picks: EVERY MONDAY MABEL
Richie Partington
Richie’s Picks: EVERY MONDAY MABEL by Jashar Awan, Simon & Schuster, February 2025, 48p., ISBN: 978-1-6659-3815-0
“San Francisco was one of the first cities in the U.S. to implement a citywide three-stream system with color-coded bins (blue for recyclables, green for compostables, and black/grey for landfill waste). Their ‘Fantastic Three’ program, piloted in 1999, led to significant increases in waste diversion and is considered a success. San Francisco has a mandatory recycling and composting ordinance, requiring all residents and businesses to participate in the program.”
“Mister Thompson calls the waiter, orders steak and baked potato
Then he leaves the bone and gristle and he never eats the skins
The busboy comes and takes it, with a cough contaminates it
And puts it in a can with coffee grinds and sardine tins
Then the truck comes by on Friday and carts it all away
And a thousand trucks just like it are converging on the Bay, oh
Garbage (garbage, garbage, garbage) Garbage!
We're filling up the sea with garbage (garbage...)
Garbage (garbage, garbage, garbage) Garbage!
What will we do when there's no place left
To put all the garbage?”
– Bill Steele (1969)
EVERY MONDAY MABEL is a hoot of a picturebook tale about a little girl who awakens to her thrilling Monday morning routine. Mabel gets herself dressed and provisioned with breakfast. She heads out to the top of the driveway, so that she will be in prime position to watch the garbage truck arrive and do its job:
“THE GARBAGE TRUCK IS HERE!
And it’s huge!
The hubcaps shine!
The engine roars!
The lights flash!
The brakes squeak!
IT GRABS THE TRASH CAN!
AND LIFTS IT INTO THE AIR!”
For the toddlers, EVERY MONDAY MABEL will be an exciting, onomatopoeic recap of their own experiences of magical, weekly, garbage truck visits.
For the pre-Ks and kindergarteners, this joyful read will also serve as a perfect starting point for conversing with them about the benefits to the planet of reducing the volume of garbage by diligently and accurately recycling and composting.
At an early age, plenty of youngsters will understand that a conscientious effort to recycle and compost will help the planet. Hopefully, some of these young, newbie environmentalists will be inspired to boldly instruct and demonstrate proper waste management to their parents.
After all, they and their little buddies are the ones who will be inheriting this planet and all that darn trash.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
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