Why Does Plastic Hurt the Planet? How Our Stuff is Harming the Earth, and what You Can Do to Reduce Your Use

Every minute, a dump truck’s worth of plastic tumbles into our oceans. That’s a staggering image—and one that young readers need to understand. Why Does Plastic Hurt the Planet? takes this urgent environmental challenge and makes it accessible, beautiful, and actionable for kids.

Author Clive Gifford uses an innovative “mind mapping” approach that transforms complex environmental science into visual storytelling. Through stunning illustrations paired with clear, layered text, children can trace the journey of plastic—from production to pollution—and understand exactly how their everyday choices impact beaches, wildlife, food supplies, and climate change.

This isn’t just another doom-and-gloom environmental book. It’s an empowering guide that meets young activists where they are. Inspired by voices like Greta Thunberg, today’s kids want real answers and concrete actions. This book delivers both. Each page breaks down difficult questions: Why don’t we just stop using plastic? Can we undo the damage? And most importantly: What can I do today?

The carefully leveled text works beautifully for emerging and proficient readers alike, making it perfect for home, classroom, or library shelves. It’s the kind of book that sparks dinner table conversations and inspires genuine change.

Part of the Mind Mappers collection—which includes How Do We Stop Climate Change? and Are We Running Out of Water?—this book belongs in the hands of every young person ready to protect our planet.

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