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(Images from the picture book courtesy of Maria Zaharatos, Shelby Atherton, Ruby Walker)
Maria Zaharatos
The Middlebury Institute of International Studies
February 10, 2023
Kids can do it too: How a children’s book can inspire community-based action for the environment
Meet Ángela, a shy but curious girl from Quito, Ecuador.
In Ángela and the Plastic Problem, she embarks on a journey to discover what her local community and communities across her country are doing to increase sustainability by combating plastic waste. Learning about intiatives in other cities and even going on a trip to the marvelous Galápagos Islands, she is helped and inspired along the way by her best friend, Julia, and her Mamá.
Ángela meets new friends like Pedro and his mother to continue her exploration of Ecuador, facing her fears to discover how community can tackle plastic pollution together.
In this children’s book, youth will hopefully be inspired to take action after learning about what other people are doing to combat plastic waste.
Ángela and the Plastic Problem was written as an original story by first-time and emerging authors Maria Zaharatos & Shelby Atherton, edited and published with support from Elena Negrón, and illustrated by Ruby Walker.
The following two page spreads are an excerpt from the book.
The book is made available through the Texas-based educational nonprofit organization, FARO: Projects for Global Education, which writes educational curricula and children’s books on global issues.
For interested readers who liked this excerpt, you can check out the full book available on Amazon, and keep an eye out for our Kindle version coming soon!
For teachers or others who want to use the book for educational purposes – please contact FARO at info@faropge.org
