Stuff!: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

by Steven Kroll, Steven Kroll

Pinch is a packrat. He collects lots of stuff. When his friends decide to hold a tag sale, Pinch is horrified. The last thing he wants to do is recycle his things. But then he realizes that he can make money at a tag sale—enough money to buy more stuff!

How Pinch changes and finds a way to beautify his town will reinforce the benefits of practicing the three R’s— reduce, reuse, and recycle!

Genres: Picture Books, Environment, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Stephen Kroll spoke at schools and conferences all over the world. He was married to the journalist, Kathleen Beckett, and they lived in New York City and an old carriage house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. When he was not writing or traveling, he played a lot of tennis and walked around looking at everything.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pinch is asked to participate in the town's tag sale, he balks, being a pack rat and all. However, the others in town are keen to gather their items and make a few coins. Soon Pinch sees just how much that can be made and rushes to empty his house of unwanted items. When the final tally is made, the town decides to buy a tree with their earnings, which gives Pinch an idea. After making a few calls, Pinch has his own tag sale and the results are amazing. Neo remembers our move and how we had to get rid of many things. Howeber, tossing things away at the dump and giving them away seem much less exciting than a tag sale. Oh well.. next time!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually really loved this book and was surprised by it. Pack rat loves his stuff and his house is overflowing with it. A very American issue, he discovers that other people can use and love his stuff while he learns he loves having clean decluttered spaces and helping his neighbors plant trees.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pinch is a pack-rat who hoards all kinds of stuff in his house--the stuff is actually falling out of his windows and spilling out into Pinch's yard and beyond. His friends are participating in a community effort to clean up the town by having a tag sale and using the money to plant trees. Pinch is reluctant to join in on the effort...can he be convinced to reduce, reuse, and recycle?

The character names and illustrations were a little cheesy but the overall message is good.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story about cleaning out the clutter and donating or selling items you no longer want or need. We try to reinforce these ideas at home, but it's good to read about them too. Besides, it helps to talk up the ecological benefits of reusing and recycling items.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for students to learn summarizing stories.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

what is it about a mouse all dressed up in human like clothing ... so cool!! love it. great illustrations. will read more from this author soon, very soon.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute story that introduces kids to the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love finding books that promote recycling and that try to bring the awareness to kids of all ages. In our family we recycle and the kids help by knowing which bin to put things in. They also help take the trash out and about how we don't waste food. So we decided to check out, "Stuff: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" by Steven Kroll.



In this book it's about a packrat that completely does not want to recycle. He just keeps packing more and more junk while the pile keeps getting bigger.



I really wanted to like this book but it seemed like it was going no where. The text seem to bore the kids too. But the illustrations in this book were full of color and told a story by themselves. they really brought the book to life. My kids loved to just look at the pictures.



I wouldn't recommend reading this book. :(

[Shanaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book basically about recycling. It shows by recycling how things can be reused and also how you would be reducing the clutter around your home. I think if its read to children they will get the point of the reason why we should recycle.

Have kids do a scavenger hut in the class room they must find the items you have hidden with a tag that reads either recycle or reuse and they are to put the tagged items in its correct place

[Vanessa Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great to teach the children about a great way to get rid of items that are no longer usable without just throwing them out. The book could also relate to how one person can make a difference in the world of recycling because it starts out with friends of the rat asking him to participate to the rat asking family members to participate.

[Judy Desetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for using in April for Earth Day and other environmental units. Definitely shows how giving things away is a good idea for everyone. A bit preachy though; I don't see it as a great read aloud on the basis of language use.

[Julie]

Stuff!: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Steven Kroll (no date)

[Deanna Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that a 'message' book doesn't annoy me, but this one was really fun. It was less about environmental consciousness and more about garage sales.

[K Baxter]

picture book about recycling Pack Rat

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"pack rat, yard sale, recycling, tree planting"

[Meadow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too preachy. Made the kid want to have a yard sale (but with my stuff.)

[Rshogren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for what to do with your junk! Your junk is someone else's treasure.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the message in this story. This is a great way to help kids see that simplifying makes life easier.

[Mitran Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's about keeping the world clean.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute piture book about a pack rat who tries with the help of his friends/neighbors to declutter his house. Wonderful pictures, good suggestions for those of us who have the troubleof hoarding stuff.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pack rat participates in a yard sale. The best part is how he enjoys seeing everyone enjoy the items he had but couldn't see buried under his hoard.

[Hilary]

Recommended at the BYU Symposium.