Librarian: Kathleen Engstrom, Haston Library, Franklin
Book: Compost, by Gosh! An Adventure With Vermicomposting by Michelle Eva Portman
Age range: 4-8
Engstrom’s summary: Environmentalist Michelle Eva Portman wrote and illustrated this engaging book about vermicomposting — an amazing process in which worms eat our leftover food waste and make compost. Through rhyming text and vibrant pictures, Compost, by Gosh! tells the story of a mother and daughter who start a vermicomposting bin together.
“Eisenia fetida (i see’ nee a fet’ ida) / Is our pet worms’ real name,” writes Portman. “They liked their new home. / They were quiet and tame.”
Step-by-step instructions cover the care and feeding of the worms — and how to use the compost they produce to nourish houseplants. It’s a simple introduction to recycling food waste on a small, practical scale. The young girl in the book cares for the environment by caring for her worms — something any child can do.
Why you’ll like it: Kids find worms to be fascinating, cool creatures, and that’s what makes this book a winner. It’s also a valuable teaching tool. The “How to” and “Resources” sections will help you set up a worm bin at home or in the classroom. We have one in our library.
This article was originally published in Seven Days’ monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.
This article appears in The Tech Issue October 2013 (Kids VT).
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!