Compost Crew: A Schoolyard Mission to Turn "Ew" into "Wow"

Four friends spot a lunchroom problem-mountains of peels, crusts, and leftovers-and turn it into a school garden win. With a little courage (and a lot of leaves), Maya, Theo, Jamal, and Lina launch a compost bin that transforms cafeteria scraps into rich "garden gold." Along the way they learn the compost recipe-greens, browns, air, and patience-meet the Tiny Team of decomposers, fix soggy and stinky setbacks, and share the final "wow" when their seedlings thrive.

What kids get:

• An exciting, funny school adventure that makes science feel doable
• Clear, kid-friendly compost basics: what goes in, what stays out, and why
• Problem-solving moments (too wet, too dry, fruit flies) with simple fixes
• Positive themes: teamwork, responsibility, and caring for the Earth

Perfect for:

• Ages 3-8, classrooms, eco clubs, school garden programs, homeschool, Earth Day reads

Bonus back matter:

• Quick sorting guide (In the Bin / Not in the Bin)
• Troubleshooting tips (smell, moisture, balance)
• Friendly profiles of worms, roly-polies, and other tiny helpers
• A simple home or classroom compost experiment to try right away

From cafeteria "ew" to garden "wow," this upbeat chapter book shows how small daily choices-sort, stir, and wait-can grow big change.