Name: Composting for Community
Brand: Gloo Books
SKU: 9781737240488
Price: 19.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Composting for Community

$19.95

$19.95 $19.95

Composting for Community

Author: Michael MartinezIllustrator: Hannah Abbo

FictionAges 5-8 • 3-536 pages★★★★★(8)

Topic: Latinx & Latin America Neighborhoods & Communities Environment & Conservation Gardening

Mood: Hopeful Empowering Informative

$19.95

$19.95 $19.95

WHY WE LOVE THIS

Perfect for households that compost or have a garden. This book introduces composting through Mateo's family, connecting science with environmental care and celebrating Latino heritage.

International Latino Book Award 2025: Gold Medal Winner for Best Environmental Awareness Themed Book

Winner of the 2024 Green Earth Book Honor Award

The Big Bang Notable Book List 2025: Silver Medal Science Spark Award

Bookstagang's Best of 2023 Awards in the category of Best Conversation Starters of 2023

Mateo's father is a composter. When the class falls silent during Mateo's career day presentation, he sets out to learn more about not only his father's job, but about composting itself. His dad's seemingly ordinary job unveils a world of interconnectedness, family heritage and environmental stewardship that changes Mateo's perspective.

Guided by his family, Mateo delves into the science of composting and witnesses the transformation of trash into nourishing compost that provides life for our planet. Inspired, Mateo returns to school ready to pass along the wisdom from his father, and his ancestors before him, to his community.

Written by the founder of LA Compost, this story is a call to action for readers of all ages. Filled with familial love and educational lessons on composting science and climate change, Composting for Community is an inspiring story about the power of community where every small effort can blossom into something extraordinary.

ISBN: 9781737240488

Press: Gloo Books

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Reviews

The Best Book!

I love this book! It's a great introduction for the compost-curious, and even if you're not - it's a beautiful story about family, repair, and seeing value in places that we might otherwise disregard. I highly recommend - it gives me goosebumps and teary eyes every time I read it (and it's been a lot).

Hi Katya,

Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. And I'm so happy to hear you are re-reading it regularly!

Happy reading,
The Gloo Books Team

Sweet Book for Introducing Topic

I purchased this for my summer Kids Garden program & introductory teaching about composting. Well received by the children and parents alike.

Heart-filling, fun to read, fantastic

I love this book more than an adult should love a kids book. I want it in every classroom, every gift shop, every family's bookshelf. It teaches without being didactic or boring for the kiddos. The story is lovely and engaging. All the explanations about the science of composting are spot-on and easy to follow. My 2 and 4 year old both request it and pull it off the shelf all the time.

Also - it is love embodied, without ever hammering anything home. Love for the earth, love for community, love for family. Family bonds and intergenerational tenderness and respect are gently uplifted
Men and boys speak kindly to one another and help each other. They tend to the world around them.

I recommend this book to literally everyone I can think of. It will change the world.

Encouraging youth to Compost in our County

We will be distributing this book to our county libraries and our 9 elementary schools in our district. This is the reason for purchasing this book. We are the only garden club in our county and wish to educate our youth about every aspect of gardening and conservation.