pile of dog poop, hold your
nose and take a closer look.
Can you see any decomposers?
In warm weather, chances are
a fly will discover the dog bomb
before it cools off. Flies lay eggs
in animal droppings, and soon
hungry larvae (maggots) start
feeding ... "
Anita Sanchez meets too many children today who have no idea that what happens on their computer screen or on their television set can also be happening outside their window. In fact, she talks about going on a nature walk with urban children when one of the children is surprised to see a real acorn. He knew they existed because he had seen one in the movie Ice Age; he just never imagined seeing one in 'real life'. Sad, don't you think?
There is so much for kids to learn when they take a walk just outside the walls of their home.. It is Ms. Sanchez's wish that kids will stop reading her books at any point to take what they are reading outside and discover that what she is describing is actually happening near where they live. In her book Rotten, she does much to encourage them to make some amazing discoveries by getting up close to things in their backyard and neighborhood that are rotting. Most everything does rot at some point.
I know you have seen it in your fridge, in a plant pot, on the playground, even in the garbage you take to the curb to be picked up. You may even have a compost bin. If not, she shares how to get one started in hopes that compost will help in gardens and flower beds around your yard.
She begins with a short introduction to the process of rotting.
"But wait a minute. Revolting as it seems, rot isn't necessarily bad. What would happen if nothing ever decomposed? What if every dried leaf, pile of dog poop, or dead animal just sat there forever and didn't rot away? Our cities would be piled high with garbage, forests would be clogged with logs, the ocean would be full of dead fish. Think about it ... "
Each new chapter presents a topic such as dung beetles, scavengers, fungus, rotten logs, earthworms, those things that rot in our houses, and a description of what happens to two sandwich crusts. She manages to control the amount of information provided, giving readers a chance to read and absorb it. A wealth of data will hold readers' attention, as will the often humorous and certainly helpful illustrations that adorn each page. There is much here to learn, and the way the presentation is handled will hold attention and provide much to discuss further. Personal experiences and shared ideas for accessible projects provide a sense of immediacy, and a call to action.
I was very interested to read an interview with the author in which she described some of the environmental and scientific work that she does with children and adults.
"I take students outdoors for science classes–students of all ages, from preschool to college. The tools of my trade are insect nets, hand lenses, feathers, mammal bones, and birds’ nests. During my classes we wade in streams, turn over rotting logs, watch chickadees, observe tadpoles. We get wet, scratched, mosquito-bitten, and muddy. Over the years, I’ve noticed, it’s gotten harder and harder to persuade my students to leave the blacktop behind. Many children today have a disconnect with nature that is truly scary."
Having books like this in the home and in the classroom can help to change that.
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