Femida Handy and Carole Carpenter, illustrated by Arianna Steele-Card,
Sandy’s Incredible Shrinking Footprint
Second Story Press, 2010.

Rating: G*

Every summer Sandy visits her Grandpa’s house by the beach. Sandy loves the beach, but this summer she finds garbage strewn across the sand. Disgusted, Sandy immediately begins to clean up the mess. Then Sandy encounters the mysterious and wise Garbage Lady, who explains to her about her ecological footprint, and what she can do to shrink it. Sandy returns home inspired and excited about all the things she can do to make the world better, and she quickly puts this information into action.

In this book, the message drives the story. The book does what it aims to do: spread an important ecological message and be a good learning tool.

A list at the end of "Ways to Shrink Our Footprints" is a great resource for teachers and parents to introduce tactile ways of implementing environmental responsibility.

Although the story may be one many children have heard before, the illustrations are very original and fitting, made from collages of natural and recycled materials, including birch bark, leaves and other elements of nature. Bright and full of depth, they are also visually appealing. The illustrations also provide great inspiration for similar art-related activities.

Thematic Links: Environment,; Art

Kallie George
Vol. 15, number 4
April 2010

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.