Best Children’s Books about Recycling (2026): 5 Compared

Sort and reuse, and the best children’s books about recycling teach it well. We compared five books by recycling fit, publisher and reading age, using only what each Amazon listing states. Every figure below comes from the listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	What a Waste	9.8/10	Buy
2	Adventures of a Plastic Bottle	9.7/10	Buy
3	Don't Throw That Away!	9.7/10	Buy
4	Earth Ninja	9.6/10	Buy
5	Recycling!	9.5/10	Buy

1

What a Waste

Jess French·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A recycling book for kids, 72 pages, reading age 4 to 10 years, published April 2, 2019.

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Pros

• 72 pages; DK Children
• 2019 edition
• Reading age 4 to 10 years, from customers

Cons

• 2019; older
• 72 pages; long
• Facts; dense

2

Adventures of a Plastic Bottle

Alison Inches·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A recycling book for kids, 24 pages, reading age 3 to 9 years, published January 6, 2009.

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Pros

• 24 pages; Little Simon
• 2009 edition
• Reading age 3 to 9 years, from customers

Cons

• 2009; older
• 24 pages
• Bottle's POV; narrow

3

Don't Throw That Away!

Lara Bergen·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A recycling book for kids, 14 pages, reading age 2 to 6 years, published October 13, 2009.

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Pros

• 14 pages; Little Simon
• 2009 edition
• Reading age 2 to 6 years, from customers

Cons

• 2009; older
• 14 pages; short
• Flaps; tear

4

Earth Ninja

Mary Nhin·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A recycling book for kids, 33 pages, reading age 3 to 11 years, published December 7, 2019.

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Pros

• 33 pages; 2019 edition
• Reading age 3 to 11 years
• Ninja series

Cons

• 2019; older
• Reading age not from customers
• 33 pages

5

Recycling!

Jess Stockham·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A recycling book for kids, 24 pages, reading age 2 to 5 years, published December 1, 2011.

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Pros

• 24 pages; Child's Play Intl
• 2011 edition
• Reading age 2 to 5 years

Cons

• 2011; older
• Reading age not from customers
• 24 pages

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More picks to compare

• The Life of a Little Cardboard BoxSuits readers wanting IglooBooks, cardboard box.Check on Amazon
• Recycle!Suits readers wanting Gail Gibbons.Check on Amazon
• Maisy's Recycling TruckSuits readers wanting Lucy Cousins.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specs as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs recycling fit, publisher, value and reading guidance. Three listings state reading ages from customers. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about recycling

Recycling fit

All five are recycling. Browse picture books for more.

Age fit

Reading ages run from 2 (Recycling!) to 4-10 (What a Waste). Our books about rain list covers more.

Length

Page counts run from 14 (Don’t Throw) to 72 (What a Waste).

Before you buy

• Check the reading age.
• Compare the 14 to 72 page counts.
• Sales claims in the descriptions are the publisher’s; treat as marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest?

What a Waste, at 72 pages.

Which is the shortest?

Don’t Throw That Away!, at 14 pages.

Which is by Jess French?

What a Waste.

Which is a lift-the-flap?

Don’t Throw That Away!.

Still deciding? Our top pickWhat a Waste

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Related lists

See every picture book list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: books about space, books about spring and books about summer.