Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth

by Mary McKenna Siddals, Ashley Wolff (Illustrator)

Teach kids to compost and help them develop life-long habits to protect the Earth. From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book perfect for Earth Day!
 
Kids everywhere are seeking knowledge about the environment and climate change. Not only is composting becoming more common in households and residential gardens, but many school gardens feature compost piles, too. But how do you start a compost pile? What’s safe to include? Perfect for an Earth Day focus or year-round reference, this inviting book provides all the answers for kids and families looking for simple, child-friendly ways to help the planet.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Environment, Gardening, Science, Poetry, Nonfiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2010

Reviews

[siriusedward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful intro to compost.
Just enough content and a variety of compostable objects shown.
Lovely illustrations.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun! I was surprised how much I liked this. Pleasant rhymes, engaging illustrations (not my typical cup of tea, but they work wonderfully because they utilize "scraps" just like compost does), and a great lesson about what you can compost (and what you should not compost!) and why it is important. We read this for Earth Day and my children loved it and have asked for several readings since then.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth is a children's picture book written by Mary McKenna Siddals and illustrated by Ashley Wolff. It centers on Jesus and some of his message, but the focus is on selected miracles and the wonder thereof. Since today is Earth Day (22 April 2021), I thought it would be apropos to read this book today.

Siddals' text is rather simplistic, straightforward, informative, and lyrical. Siddals keeps the tone light while providing easy instructions on how everyone can participate in this eco-friendly activity of composting. Wolff's cut-paper collages depict a multicultural group of kids, as well as a Dalmatian and a goose, working together to collect material.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Letters stand for different components of what goes into a compost pile – an environmental friendly alphabet book.

All in all, Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth is a wonderful alphabet book for the budding environmentalist.

[DelGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for children to learn environmentally friendly activities like composting all wrapped up in an easy to remember A-Z "recipe" - very cute, it even made me want to get outside and make my own stew! The only thing is that the author left out a critical part in the book. No where does it explain exactly what "compost/composting" is in a kid friendly version, it just starts out with the recipe assuming that a child already knows what compost means. Sure parents can explain it to their children, but it would have made sense to have a quick definition, and maybe reasons why it's good to compost too, in the beginning to start the book off.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darling rhyming story to start children off on a composting journey. Rhyming text that goes A-Z educates readers on what is compostable. An author's note in rhyme at the end instructs littles on what not to compost. Gardening parents will love this story.

[Mary Knipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book for children about composting.🙂

[RG]

Yes to everything but the dryer lint in your compost stew!

[Skyler Barksdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compost Stew is a children's fiction picture book for 3-7-year-olds, and it was published in 2010. It includes everything one can add to their compost, from A-Z! The language that the author uses flows very well together. Even though you are listing things out essentially, it doesn't ever feel boring or redundant. The illustrations are captivating, and the illustrator Ashley Wolff does a great way of incorporating collage techniques For example, you can see that she attempted to use real trimming of the newspaper. This is a great way to get children excited about helping the earth, and learning what goes into compost and what doesn't. I would give this book 5 stars, but instead, I chose to give it to 4 stars. I wish that the author had included a short, simple definition of what compost/composting is before the story begins. The author is assuming that 3 years old - 7-year-olds already may know what compost is, which doesn't feel accurate. I think this would be a well-fitting book for Earth Day. Teachers could have children make their classroom compost using the things they list in the book or the children could do complete their compost art collage using different materials.

[Molly Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction topic presented through the use of a clever rhyming text. As the story continues the reader learns about the A to Z ingredients that make up the “Compost Stew”. It also features intricate collage illustrations made up of recycled materials from newsprint and book pages, bugs and egg cartons, dryer fuzz and lettuce bag labels. On each colorful page there is much to discover about materials that can be composted. The story and illustrations are delightful. By the end, the reader has learned how to make “Compost Stew” without really trying. So yes, it’s true. Science can be FUN!

[Arleigh Stiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated alphabet book that introduces the concept to composting. However, I think that if you are looking for a book to teach the alphabet, this may not be the best option for that. It is focused more on what things can and can't be composted. The illustrations are really well done. All of the pictures look like collages, as if each person/object was cut and pasted onto the page. This goes perfectly with the compost theme of the book.

Compost Stew is definitely for younger students. I think it could be used for an Earth Day or some sort of environment lesson, rather than an ABCs lesson.

[Madison Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile!" This book is a lot of fun for students that are just beginning to learn their ABC's. From the rhymes and engaging illustrations that make this book come alive when you are reading it. The book also teaches about the environment and climate change whole also making the connection to help the environment by composting. I would read this book to preschool and kindergarten students. I just love the front cover of the book. In my classroom I would read this book for Earth Day and give the students different activities and maybe build our own compost bin for the school.

[Lexi Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book a 4 star rating because it's a good book for younger children when learning the alphabet.

When Siddals puts together her compost stew with things that begin with each letter of the alphabet it can help kids out since the beginning of each word is capitalized so it's very noticeable. The pictures that go along with each of the letters and ingredients of the compost stew is very fun and engaging for younger kids. They will love the animals and all the kid friendly illustrations.

[Gail Gauthier · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...though I am not a composting neophyte, there were items in this book I hadn't heard of. I had heard of putting hair clippings in a compost pile, for instance, but not oatmeal. Egg shells, but not lint. So I'm sitting there reading this with a young child going, "What?" "Whoa, there.""

Excerpt from Original Content.

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is on me. I thought this was going to be an actual recipe book. I guess I didn't fully register that the title was "recipe for the Earth." It was cute. At times the illustration was a bit much for me (and usually I loveeee collage illustrations). I was even hoping at the end that maybe there would be a recipe that used kitchen scaps. Meh...this one is on me. I mainly see this being a fun storytime with an educational composting activity afterwards.

[Liz Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the collage style illustrations in this book and they really bring the book to life. The book goes A to Z with items that can be composted, and there is a gentle rhyme that moves the story along. I would love to use this book with young children and it's perfect for classes who have worm farms in their care.

[sam howie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing children's book on sustainability, should be read in every classroom. What is great especially is that it breaks down the vast amounts of compostable materials, including those that can seem confusing for adults to teach children like how little bits of paper are actually best put into a compost or green bin opposed to every piece of paper only going in the recycle bin.

[Sherry Dorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read and a great way to introduce your children or students to sustainability by teaching them about composting. Would be a great book to introduce the concept of zero waste and sustainable practices. I've purchased it as a gift for an earth day raffle.

[Haley Snell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book! I could so see myself reading this A-Z book to my students on Earth Day. The rhymes are fun, and the illustrations are very engaging, as they utilize scraps just like compost does.

[Orion Kopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book says my hippie mom

[A Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great way to talk to children about things that can be composted while also practicing our letter recognition! I only wish this book had more diversity in the people contributing.

[Kyler Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly book showing how to make compost out of old garbage. Its a good book for students learning about recycling and for students that are interesting in gardening.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun way to introduce composting!

[Diana Valdivia-Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about composting. I can teach students about compost and green living. The pages are matte, page break and framing. It reminds me of Earth Day.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!!! Gardens, collage art, compost.... what’s not to love.

[Angelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to making garden compost. For kids (and not only).

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We started a compost bin this summer. Great illustrations, nice rhythm and educational. Even I learned a few things I didn't know could go in the compost bin!

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun alphabetical rhyming book about...compost? Yes, compost! Ha ha

7/21/20 Read with Naomi and Julia

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute introduction to composting using rhyming text and colorful illustrations. The alphabet format makes this work well for young children.

[Little Seesaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book highly informational and I actually would like to try to make some compost stew. The ending is a must read to get the whole recipe.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great theme, eco-friendly, how to make compost stew. Lively illustrations. Fun!