In a small village, there were too many kids for the small school. It was way too crowded—two classes to a room, two kids to a desk! Work had started on new classrooms—the frames were built—but then t
In a small village, there were too many kids for the small school. It was way too crowded—two classes to a room, two kids to a desk! Work had started on new classrooms—the frames were built—but then the money ran out. Fernando was having a day like any day at school when something happened. Seño Laura took a sip from her soda bottle and then set it on the building frame—it was a perfect fit! Could they finish building the classroom walls with empty soda bottles stuffed with trash? Fernando and the other children went to work—and soon everyone wanted to help. This is a true story of an amazing recycling project!
Suzanne Slade is the award-winning author of one hundred children’s books. She admires the teamwork and dedication of the many people who worked together to create this unique school, and hopes this story will inspire others to think about new ways to recycle. A mechanical engineer by degree, Suzanne is excited to share the incredible, innovative Soda Bottle School building project with readers. Suzanne’s recent picture books include The House That George Built (a Junior Library Guild selection and Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year) and Climbing Lincoln's Steps (a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People and Paterson Prize winner.) Suzanne lives near Chicago with her husband, two children, and their little dog, Corduroy.
Laura Kutner was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She graduated with a BA in Anthropology and Spanish from University of California, Santa Barbara, and soon after her graduation joined the Peace Corps as a youth development volunteer in Guatemala, where she served from 2007–10. During her service she implemented a life skills curriculum in local middle schools, facilitated the establishment of a community library, and worked with the community to build two classrooms out of plastic bottles and trash.
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