A level 3 in the much-loved-by-teachers MathStart series, Murphy’s latest focus is on place value. The members of the Maple Street School Save-the-Planet Club are working to fix up the park for the Earth Day festivities. After the trash is picked up, though, the park could still use some beautifying. The club decides to recycle aluminum cans to make the money to buy flowers. The text follows their efforts at collecting the cans and bagging them in groups of 1,000, 100, and 10. As they post their totals in the school hallway, readers see the bags and the way the numbers add up to make a grand total. Flyers, posters, and even the teacher’s blackboard feature facts about recycling and the beginnings of Earth Day. Excellent activity suggestions follow the text, allowing parents and children to spend time together while learning. A marvelous addition to the series . . . and to any primary teacher’s bookshelf. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-10)
