The Great Trash Bash

by Loreen Leedy

Beaston's Mayor Hippo calls a town meeting when he realizes that there is too much trash, and the animals work together to clean up the mess and change habits to prevent future problems

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Science, Childrens, Environment

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Loreen Leedy is the author and illustrator of over 40 picture books with math, science, language arts, and other curriculum content. Her books showcase information in a kid-friendly format, often with characters and entertaining stories.

Honors and awards for her books include: ALA Notable Book, Science Books and Films finalist, Reading Rainbow feature book, Chicago Library Best of the Best, many Scholastic Book Fair selections, Florida Book Award, Parent's Choice Award, many Junior Library Guild selections, and Outstanding Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association.

Loreen has spoken at hundreds of schools and many conferences such as the International Reading Association, the American Library Association, the Mazza Summer Conference, and the UVU Engaged Reading Forum.

She lives in central Florida with her husband Andy, who is a scientist and a cat named Knickers who has an easily triggered purrometer. They love to travel, read, and watch movies.

Reviews

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title drew me in: the Great Trash Bash. The story itself made me question my motives for such attraction. It might've been a cool story about a bunch of animal friends cleaning up trash in their community in a way that says HARDCORE ROCK!! Instead we get a totally uncool story of a bunch of animal friends cleaning up trash in their community in a way that says let's do a PSA Woodsy Owl type moral lesson on the importance of cleaning up the environment and shove it down the throats of children everywhere. Yeah, that'll get us the award from the National Education Board! ...Sadly, the only saving grace of this book is the drawings. The animals living in the city of Beaston have figured out, after months of deep thought, that their city needs tidying up big time. So they sputter aloud suggestions for kids to adhere to: like, wow, let's recycle paper and plastic....too bad the author had to recycle outdated concepts taken from crap like Romper Room, New Zoo Revue, Big Comfy Couch etc. So if anyone asks, "Please come to Beaston" just say no, and "Honey won't you come home to me.... Rambling girl, settle down, cos Beaston ain't my kinda town. There ain't no gold, no picket fence, no rainbow bright, no need. True Goodreaders are the number one fans of the man named Edward C." Not to pump myself up, but my fans expect the best books I can suggest, and to me this is far from. But I'll let you decide.
Two stars
Trash like this goes where trash belongs!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cool little sequential piece for kids that tells the tale of Mayor Hippo of Beaston. It is a straight forward tale that (with the help of fox's, frogs and raccoons) about conservation. It contains simple messages like "why buy something new when we can fix something old?" It is presented in a way that is really joyous in the simple discoveries of how we can not be so wasteful and that polluting just makes no sense, once you go to swim in a pond and read a warning sign: "WARNING! No swimming here. Polluted water. The story is not preachy nor does it talk down to the reader; it is just innocent characters trying to make sense of something wonderful they have harmed and concluding that they can do simple things to fix it.
I have to thank the Good Will store in South Attleboro, MA for making books like this available for .49 cents. That and being able to buy a 100% wool suit, silk tie, cotton shirt and belt for only $19.

[Gina Starling · Rating 4 out of 5]

K-2

"Beaston has too much trash." Investigating possible solutions to the excess garbage, the mayor and his animal retinue visit the town dump, incinerator, and landfill, briefly discussing the pros and cons of each: "The incinerator burns trash and makes energy!" but "It makes air pollution too!" Declaring a "Trash Bash," the animals launch a comprehensive clean-up and recycling campaign

I will use this book to broach the subject of pollution and recycling.

[Vanessa Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great book to demonstrate why it is important as a community to recycle. I could read the book and plan an activity directly involving social studies. After completing the learning experiece I could encourage the children in my classroom to get the school community involved in recycling.

[Erin Weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a great way to teach students about recycling! This particular book would fit in well with a social studies lesson. Social studies is becoming scarce within schools and incorporating reading in with social studies is a great way to add social studies back into classrooms!It teaches a great lesson while entertaining the children!

[Lee Gargagliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's wrong in our nice town? Why it's the garbage of course. A hilarious and hilariously didactic tale of how recycling turns a town around.

"We have to get rid of the dump"
"But it's so easy to just dump our trash here"
"Let's dump our trash in the next town"

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comic style book with a mix of words and speaking bubbles finds a community of animals trying to reduce, reuse and recycle while talking about how much trash and litter they generate, what happens to their garbage and what they can do to help the earth.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"trash removal and solutions, recycling, reusing"

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great way to introduce recycling. Great for persuasive writing.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book that has a positive message about recycling.

[Amanda Schwind]

Recycling

[Teri · Rating 1 out of 5]

blah

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love how children can read about what they can do at the end of the book.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good informational book about recycling, and not littering.