Carol Carpenter (3) (1944–)

The best three weeks of Sandy's year were the ones spent at her grandfather's house near the shore, so the young girl had no sooner arrived, one season, than she hurried down to the beach. Running on the sand with her dog Pepper, she stumbled across a mound of trash, and in the process of picking it up, met the infamous local 'Garbage Lady,' and learnt an important lesson about the ecological footprint we all leave behind...

A picture-book with a purpose (one I wholeheartedly support!), Sandy's Incredible Shrinking Footprint is not wholly didactic, but it definitely has a didactic purpose, and the reader never entirely loses sight of that fact, while reading. I don't know that this is necessarily a bad thing, as this strikes me as a teaching tale - one that can be used to start a discussion with younger children about environmental stewardship and responsibility, and ways that everyone - including young people - can reduce their ecological footprint.… (mais)

Sandy’s Incredible Shrinking Footprint tells the story of a young girl who, while visiting her grandpa, happily runs to a nearby beach. She loves to explore the seashore and is shocked to find a pile of garbage others left near a fire pit. She is disgusted by the waste and works to collect the candy wrappers, pop cans and mustard bottles. Before long, she meets an old woman who roams the beach and collects the litter others have left behind. The woman encourages the girl to consider, “The footprint of your life – the mark you leave on the world.”

This breezy, empowering picture book includes colourful collage illustrations made from natural and recycled materials. Suitable for children aged six and up.… (mais)