Department of Streets

As reported by the McLaughlin Group last year, "...among the top 30 most industrialized nations, the United States ranks 15th in reading..."  According to the National Endowment for the Arts, 57 percent of Americans read for pleasure at least occasionally.  We, as a society, can do better.

Reading is fundamental.  We need to read in order to:

• learn about almost any subject -- math, science, social studies, fine arts, physical education, etc.
• know how to properly give and take medications.
• prepare recipes for healthy, tasty meals.
• follow instructions for repairing equipment.
• search employment opportunities, understand job qualifications, and fill out employment applications.
• understand contracts (e.g., purchasing a vehicle or a home, obtaining loans or insurance, etc.
• be knowledgeable about issues affecting our local, regional, state, national, and international communities.  Knowledge is an important part of civic duty.  We need to be able to read in order to evaluate information that's used to make policies and to vote on decisions that can affect our everyday lives.

Family, friends, neighbors, and youth group leaders can play a vital role in teaching children how to read, and encouraging them to read more.  Set an example.  Read to a child.  Get involved.  Ensure that children have access to books, magazines, newspapers, and other reading materials.  For practice, here are some books to help children practice reading, while learning about how to reduce waste, reuse materials as many times as possible, and recycle our resources.  Check with your local library about borrowing a copy.

Grade K (about age 5)

"Here Comes the Recycling Truck!" by Meyer Seltzer

Grade 1 (about age 6)

"Recycling" by Rhonda Lucas Donald

Grade 2 (about age 7)

"The Gift" by Isia Osuchowska

Grade 3 (about age 8)

"Garbage Collectors" by Paulette Bourgeois and Kim LaFave

Grade 4 (about age 9)

"The Great Trash Bash" by Loreen Leedy

Grade 5 (about age 10)

"Rachel:  The Story of Rachel Carson" by Amy Ehrlich; Illustrated by Wendell Minor

Grade 6 (about age 11)

"I Heard the Willow Weep" by Toni Albert, Illustrated by Margaret Brandt

Grade 7 (about age 12)

"I Want to Be an Environmentalist" by Catherine O'Neil Grace and Maze Productions

Grades 8 - 12 (about ages 13-17)

• "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
• "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein

All Ages (including all Adults)

"The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss