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What Matters
What happens when one small boy picks up one small piece of litter?
He doesn't know it, but his tiny act has big consequences. From the minuscule to the universal, What Matters sensitively explores nature's connections and traces the ripple effects of one child’s good deed to show how we can all make a big difference.
He doesn't know it, but his tiny act has big consequences. From the minuscule to the universal, What Matters sensitively explores nature's connections and traces the ripple effects of one child’s good deed to show how we can all make a big difference.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2016
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 12, 2016
I think it was a good concept, but it wasn't really clear how the boy's action affected everything they mentioned. Some were obvious, others not so much, like the spider's web. It could've been a lot stronger if these things were made clearer or a stronger connection had been established.
June 2, 2018
As other reviews have said, the connection between the boy's action and certain outcomes are unclear. More, though the text says his act is a "small, small thing" the rest of the text represents it as otherwise: world-changing. It invokes the tokenist gestures that too many Western, middle-class, white people of privilege (the boy, that he is a boy and white, is of note) believe are going to have impact.
The book has good intentions, I think, but caters to the lazy populism: I recycled one can and LOOK AT HOW MUCH I CHANGED THE WORLD! Or I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR ON ONE DAY IN A CALENDAR YEAR; LOOK AT ME DEFEAT CLIMATE CHANGE.
In short, the tale falls short. It reinforces middle class, first world privilege: celebrates it, even.
Not impressed.
The book has good intentions, I think, but caters to the lazy populism: I recycled one can and LOOK AT HOW MUCH I CHANGED THE WORLD! Or I TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR ON ONE DAY IN A CALENDAR YEAR; LOOK AT ME DEFEAT CLIMATE CHANGE.
In short, the tale falls short. It reinforces middle class, first world privilege: celebrates it, even.
Not impressed.
October 17, 2016
Grades K-3. I love the idea of how one small action-- picking up trash that isn't yours-- has repercussions that make the world cleaner and better. Some of the connections the author makes are hard to follow and I'm not sure what the can had to do with it. There is a more powerful story that wants to be told.
May 18, 2020
Nice book for teaching small children that doing one small good deed, like throwing out a soda can on the ground, could have an impact on the world around them.
October 11, 2020
If you want to help children see the big value in a small action, read and share this book. It's encouraging for adults, too! Highly recommended.
July 1, 2017
This has a great message in it.
February 13, 2018
In this gentle story, a boy picks up a piece of litter (a can) and puts it into the recycling bin. He doesn't think about his action much at all, but it turns out his small act had multiple positive consequences.
Yes, there are aspects of this story that are trite (I fail to see how picking up the can helped the spider build a nicer web), but it's not so soppy as to be offensive, and it's hard to get mad at a picture book that may convince a kid to do something positive.
It's a great message that every action we do, even those that seem small or those we don't think much about, has consequences. There are lots of books about the negativity of litter and waste, but this book refreshingly focused on the positive actions we can take to make things a bit cleaner.
Yes, there are aspects of this story that are trite (I fail to see how picking up the can helped the spider build a nicer web), but it's not so soppy as to be offensive, and it's hard to get mad at a picture book that may convince a kid to do something positive.
It's a great message that every action we do, even those that seem small or those we don't think much about, has consequences. There are lots of books about the negativity of litter and waste, but this book refreshingly focused on the positive actions we can take to make things a bit cleaner.
January 21, 2017
Little things add up, as this story explains. One little boy does one small thing, but it makes a difference, and each page shows a different way his action had a positive effect. A great way to how children how their actions make a difference, even if they don't realize it, or see the change. For older children (school age) this would be a great classroom read, and open discussions. It can also be used as a prompt for how one action the children do changes their community. Worth reading.
January 20, 2017
Cute book for initiating kid to the importance of recycling and taking care of the earth. The book in itself is ok, but I was really seduce by the message it send and the possibility of discussion it can bring with the kids!
January 26, 2017
Good for teaching young children the importance of picking up litter, recycling, taking care of the planet, and how small actions make a difference!
June 3, 2017
A wonderful read illustrating the amazing ripples one small act can have on the planet. A great introduction for younger children or reinforcement for slightly older children.
April 12, 2019
What Matters is a children's picture book written by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Holly Hatam. It focuses how one small deed could have everlasting repercussions – even those that one does not sees.
Hughes' text is rather simplistic and straightforward. It centers on a boy who picked up a can and places it in the recycling box – it such an innocent thing, but has repercussions that the little boy would never know. Hatam's illustrations are drawn rather simplistically with mixed art media, but depict the narrative rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. A boy picks up a can and puts it in a recycling box, which has repercussions – a chain reaction of positive things ripples throughout nature from one simple act. It sensitively explores the connections of nature and traces the ripple effects of one good minuscule deed.
All in all, What Matters is a wonderful book that shows how one small good deed could have everlasting and huge differences.
Hughes' text is rather simplistic and straightforward. It centers on a boy who picked up a can and places it in the recycling box – it such an innocent thing, but has repercussions that the little boy would never know. Hatam's illustrations are drawn rather simplistically with mixed art media, but depict the narrative rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. A boy picks up a can and puts it in a recycling box, which has repercussions – a chain reaction of positive things ripples throughout nature from one simple act. It sensitively explores the connections of nature and traces the ripple effects of one good minuscule deed.
All in all, What Matters is a wonderful book that shows how one small good deed could have everlasting and huge differences.
April 29, 2020
Another JP read checked out by yours truly... even tho our Library is closed, some of us are still here working inside the closed Library. It's my favorite place to be!! I LOVE BOOKS!!!
The book cover of What Matters by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Holly Hatam caught my eye. What matters... what does matter?! So I grabbed it and headed back to my desk.
A young boy picks up one piece of garbage. What would that effect? The story follows the repercussions at a child's level at What Matters when you do one simple act. It's a wonderful story, or teaching tool, and the illustrations are catchy too. Some parts are photographs, some are coloured and others still in black and white. Well done!!
The book cover of What Matters by Alison Hughes and illustrated by Holly Hatam caught my eye. What matters... what does matter?! So I grabbed it and headed back to my desk.
A young boy picks up one piece of garbage. What would that effect? The story follows the repercussions at a child's level at What Matters when you do one simple act. It's a wonderful story, or teaching tool, and the illustrations are catchy too. Some parts are photographs, some are coloured and others still in black and white. Well done!!
June 27, 2022
I came across a read-along video of this online when researching the author's latest success, Fly. It proved to be the simple tale of what happens when a kid does a tiny thing like dumping a can someone littered a path with into the recycling. At first some of the things it helps seem jokey for their smallness, but of course the plot soon progresses until the entire ocean is better off because of his one small deed. So it's an easily understood moral, well delivered - but I still think the lack of perfect narrative logic in saying it helps, say, two baby birds with their new eyes, stops it from getting the greatest acclaim.
April 22, 2026
A boy picks up a can thrown out as trash in a park and places it in a recycle bin. This sets off a ripple effect of positive changes to the world, for plants, animals, humans, and even the whole world. Some of the effect might be hard to imagine but many are readily evident. Attentive readers will notice that the boy is a B&W line drawing and the rest of the page is in color, until the end when he is in full color also. Read Along version adds sweetness. Good choice for Earth Day storytimes/units.
June 15, 2017
"What happens when one small boy picks up one small piece of litter? He doesn't know it, but his tiny act has big consequences. From the miniscule to the universal, What Matters sensitively explores nature's connections and traces the ripple effects of one child's good deed to show how we can all make a big difference."
In not so many words this book speaks volumes. I really liked it and will definitely find a way to incorporate it into story time.
In not so many words this book speaks volumes. I really liked it and will definitely find a way to incorporate it into story time.
July 23, 2018
This book demonstrates, in a gentle, positive way, that even small actions matter. Great for teaching social responsibility, encouraging community stewardship, and reminding adults that the "little things" matter too.
I would consider giving this book as an alternative to a "thank you" card. Sometimes people don't realize just how much their small acts of kindness matter.
I would consider giving this book as an alternative to a "thank you" card. Sometimes people don't realize just how much their small acts of kindness matter.
July 23, 2020
A sweet story about how one small deed can have ripple effects. Reading it to my child we were both a bit confused by some of the story (how does picking up a can help a spider build his web?) but overall a nice quick read that can serve as a good conversation starter on ways kids can effect the world around them.
December 4, 2020
This book has a beautiful message attached to it. The book starts off with a boy who sees a can on the ground in the park and picks it up to be thrown away. The book then goes on to explain how such a little gesture could help and benefit so many things. This is important for students to grow up with because the more we care about the well being of our planet the healthier it will stay.
March 15, 2021
I used this book to teach Social REsponsiblity and the students had great discussions about how one small act of kindness can make a difference. This is a good book to read during Earth Week and students can brainstorm different ways they can take care of the environment.
December 7, 2017
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
One simple de-littering act has positive implications on a variety of living things and ecosystems. A nice way for children to visualize the good that comes from their good deeds.
One simple de-littering act has positive implications on a variety of living things and ecosystems. A nice way for children to visualize the good that comes from their good deeds.
December 18, 2019
When a boy picks up a can and recycles it we follow the path that shows how this one simple act matters to a whole environment and our world. Cute illustrations will help tell this caring story of how our actions or inactions can affect our planet.
April 10, 2022
Overall a good read but I wish that there could be more elaborations or more explicitly stated how the boy’s actions mattered to each event that followed. Grownups might be able to understand but kids might need some explanation. Cute illustrations though!
September 9, 2025
Wish a longer book of more examples on the impact of WHAT IFs.
This reasoning does matter to anyone of all ages on caring for our environment!
Of course, in a more general scope, on what we do in life.
This reasoning does matter to anyone of all ages on caring for our environment!
Of course, in a more general scope, on what we do in life.
August 29, 2017
a little good is always better than a little nothing
October 27, 2017
Recycling.
February 15, 2018
Simple and thought provoking exploration of large results that can come from an individuals commitment to the environment. A simple, yet powerful message.
June 25, 2018
A small boy does a little thing that impacts greater things. This story is encouraging to children who want to make the world around them cleaner and better.
November 22, 2018
What a beautiful little thing.
May 16, 2019
Liked the idea, but the execution was a bit rough. There wasn’t a clear connection between recycling a can and lots of the things mentioned.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews