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All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet
96 pages, Hardcover
Published September 17, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 12, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
I have to admit that my mother was of the generation of women who consider shopping to be a hobby, and her favorite place to be was the mall. She didn't buy a lot, but she shopped a lot, always looking for the best bargain. I do the same thing, except that I only shop at the thrift store. There's something primal about hunting and gathering that can lead to a lot of waste now that things are easier to obtain. This is a book that I would like all of my students to read!
Thomas' Fashionopolis is a fascinating look at the garment industry, but is on the longer side for some of my students. All Consuming starts with a chapter on clothing that hits many of the high points of that longer title. I'm not sure how many middle school students really think about clothes these days; they seem to wear primarily pajama pants, hoodies, and Crocs. Still, knowing that there are workers who are ill treated in the fashion industry, and that a lot of clothing is never sold and destroyed, might make young readers think twice about ordering things online from Shein.
The second chapter covers food, and I have to say that shopping for food that doesn't come in plastic is something I find stressful. Seeing information about how much waste comes from packaging will help younger readers be more mindful in their shopping, and maybe cause them to eat more canned food, like I do! (I also buy a lot of vegetables, cook them, and freeze them rather than getting plastic bags of them.)
Technology waste is definitely something that kids need to learn about. My personal expectation for any tech device lasting is seven years, but when that's half your life, it probably seems unreasonable. Knowing the resources that go into phones and computers can help people make better choices.
The chapter on gifts is a catch all, but may speak most to tweens, who love to give each other stuffed animals in gift bags that they throw away. I've rescued a LOT of gift bags from the trash at school. At my house, we have cloth drawstring gift bags, and go so far as to check out books from the library to "give" each other at Christmas. If more people gave gifts like food or regifted items instead of new tchotchkes, that would definitely cut down on waste.
This is a topic near and dear to me, so I'm looking forward to having this book in my library. The interesting cover and interior design will draw students, and there's a great glossary, list of resources, and an index at the end of the book. At 96 pages, this is the perfect length, and extremely educational!
I have to admit that my mother was of the generation of women who consider shopping to be a hobby, and her favorite place to be was the mall. She didn't buy a lot, but she shopped a lot, always looking for the best bargain. I do the same thing, except that I only shop at the thrift store. There's something primal about hunting and gathering that can lead to a lot of waste now that things are easier to obtain. This is a book that I would like all of my students to read!
Thomas' Fashionopolis is a fascinating look at the garment industry, but is on the longer side for some of my students. All Consuming starts with a chapter on clothing that hits many of the high points of that longer title. I'm not sure how many middle school students really think about clothes these days; they seem to wear primarily pajama pants, hoodies, and Crocs. Still, knowing that there are workers who are ill treated in the fashion industry, and that a lot of clothing is never sold and destroyed, might make young readers think twice about ordering things online from Shein.
The second chapter covers food, and I have to say that shopping for food that doesn't come in plastic is something I find stressful. Seeing information about how much waste comes from packaging will help younger readers be more mindful in their shopping, and maybe cause them to eat more canned food, like I do! (I also buy a lot of vegetables, cook them, and freeze them rather than getting plastic bags of them.)
Technology waste is definitely something that kids need to learn about. My personal expectation for any tech device lasting is seven years, but when that's half your life, it probably seems unreasonable. Knowing the resources that go into phones and computers can help people make better choices.
The chapter on gifts is a catch all, but may speak most to tweens, who love to give each other stuffed animals in gift bags that they throw away. I've rescued a LOT of gift bags from the trash at school. At my house, we have cloth drawstring gift bags, and go so far as to check out books from the library to "give" each other at Christmas. If more people gave gifts like food or regifted items instead of new tchotchkes, that would definitely cut down on waste.
This is a topic near and dear to me, so I'm looking forward to having this book in my library. The interesting cover and interior design will draw students, and there's a great glossary, list of resources, and an index at the end of the book. At 96 pages, this is the perfect length, and extremely educational!
August 14, 2024
This is an eye-opening look at overconsumption and how it's affecting the planet. Like the many other Orca Think books we have read, it is a rather grim - though very, very necessary - read, although each chapter does end with a section about things kids are doing to mitigate the damage.
It is divided into four chapters, each focusing on a specific facet of overconsumption: Fast Fashion, Fast Food, Smartphones, and Gifts. Each chapter breaks the issues down and makes them easy to understand (and horrifying).
Kiddo (10), who is very concerned about climate change, listened raptly as we read each night and has clearly been thinking on the topics of concern in the days since we read it. It is written at a good level for him to understand and engage with. The Orca Think books in general are excellent for that age and introducing them to some of the grimmer things about our world that can be hard to talk about.
The text is clear and engaging and tries to balance some humor with the grimness and the last section of each chapter is more uplifting as it details things kids (and adults) are doing to help.
I would highly recommend this to kids age 10-14. They're the perfect age for a wake-up call.
*Thanks to Orca Book Publishers for providing an early copy for review.
It is divided into four chapters, each focusing on a specific facet of overconsumption: Fast Fashion, Fast Food, Smartphones, and Gifts. Each chapter breaks the issues down and makes them easy to understand (and horrifying).
Kiddo (10), who is very concerned about climate change, listened raptly as we read each night and has clearly been thinking on the topics of concern in the days since we read it. It is written at a good level for him to understand and engage with. The Orca Think books in general are excellent for that age and introducing them to some of the grimmer things about our world that can be hard to talk about.
The text is clear and engaging and tries to balance some humor with the grimness and the last section of each chapter is more uplifting as it details things kids (and adults) are doing to help.
I would highly recommend this to kids age 10-14. They're the perfect age for a wake-up call.
*Thanks to Orca Book Publishers for providing an early copy for review.
June 17, 2025
This title is nominated for the 2026 Hackmatack Award in the English Non-fiction category. Personally, I think this age group (grades 4-6) are the perfect audience for this message. These ideas and concepts can be lightly introduced at younger ages, but I think that kids this age are at a point when they can really understand the domino effect that small decisions can have on our planet.
Divided into four basic sections (fashion, fast food, technology, gift giving), as well as glossary & resources, this book is easily digestible. Concepts and ideas are presented in a clear and easily understood way. I really enjoyed the 'price check' and 'super saver' infographics, and especially loved all of the stories of kids who are making a difference - like the girls who started 'Odd Sox' project. This book will help kids understand that the answer to life's problems isn't buying the new/better/upgraded versions of things we already own. Highly recommended.
Divided into four basic sections (fashion, fast food, technology, gift giving), as well as glossary & resources, this book is easily digestible. Concepts and ideas are presented in a clear and easily understood way. I really enjoyed the 'price check' and 'super saver' infographics, and especially loved all of the stories of kids who are making a difference - like the girls who started 'Odd Sox' project. This book will help kids understand that the answer to life's problems isn't buying the new/better/upgraded versions of things we already own. Highly recommended.
October 2, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. This is a great book aimed at kids about consumerism and disposable culture. It looks at all areas from fashion to food to technology and discusses ways people can make better choices about what they choose to purchase. While some of it might be a bit over the heads of kids, or unattainable for some families, it does have some wonderful suggestions that would be easy for anyone to implement. Overall, an important and informative book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews