Description
A deep dive into why humans waste so much food and the consequences for people and the planet
Around the world, a billion tons of food gets thrown away every year, even when hundreds of millions of people suffer from hunger. A lot of what we don't eat ends up rotting in landfills which contributes to global warming. The good news is that many governments, communities and individuals are working hard to tackle this giant problem. You can be part of the solution, starting in your own home—and working together, we can decrease our overall waste and make sure all people have food security. Plus, by reducing food waste, we can also fight climate change!
With inspiring profiles of food-waste activists and tasty tidbits on things like best-before dates, Good Food, Bad Waste offers much food for thought. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Author Bio
Erin Silver is an award-winning children’s author. Her books include Rush Hour: Navigating Our Global Traffic Jam (Blueberry Award winner), Sitting Shiva (OLA Best Bets, Vine Award finalist, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist), All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet (Hackmatack Award nominee), In It to Win It: Sports and the Climate Crisis (Green Earth Book Award winner) and Good Food, Bad Waste: Let’s Eat for the Planet (2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books finalist). She is also the author of two nonfiction picture books for younger readers, Mighty Scared and Plant Attack! (Silver Birch Express nominee). Erin is a sought-after speaker at schools, libraries and conferences. She has an MFA in creative nonfiction and a postgraduate journalism degree. Erin lives in Toronto.
Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto-based illustrator. Her love for drawing started in a kindergarten art school after being kicked out of calligraphy class for refusing to convert to right-handedness. Formally trained in art history and cultural anthropology, she worked for several years as a university librarian until her passion for illustration called her out of that career and into the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Since then, Suharu has created illustrations for magazines, public art projects and children's books, including All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet, Cities: How Humans Live Together and Why Humans Work: How Jobs Shape Our Lives. She also teaches illustration at OCAD University in Toronto.
Prizes
- CCBC Best Books for Kids & TeensCommended 2023
- Young Readers' Choice Book Awards of British Columbia (YRCABC) Red Cedar Book Awards - NonfictionNominated 2025
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books - Middle GradeNominated 2024
- Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC) Book Awards - Youth CategoryLong-listed 2023
- TD Summer Reading Club Recommended ReadsCommended 2025
- The Nature Generation Green Earth Book Award (GEBA) - Children’s Nonfiction Recommended ReadingCommended 2024
- BC Books for SchoolsCommended 2023
Review Quotes
“Written in conversational and inviting ways…Illustrations are helpful and add contextual meaning. This book is sure to help with making better choices.”
— Sal's Fiction Addiction“Through positive encouragement, children will feel inspired to take action and help change their family’s eating and waste habits. This informative book would be a valuable addition to any library, offering important lessons in a fun and accessible format for young readers.”
— Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)“The attractive layout features colourful cartoon-style graphics and stock images reflecting the diversity of our global population, along with fascinating sidebar facts.”
— BC Books for Schools“With a hopeful message that even small changes by individuals or groups can make a huge difference, this book is excellent for independent or curriculum-related reading.”
— Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children’s Book NewsBiographical note
Erin Silver is a children’s author and freelance writer whose work has appeared in everything from Good Housekeeping to the Washington Post. She is the author of numerous books for children, including Rush Hour: Navigating Our Global Traffic Jam in the Orca Footprints line, as well as What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 and Proud to Play: Canadian LGBTQ+ Athletes Who Made History. Erin holds a master of fine arts in creative nonfiction from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a postgraduate journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University and a bachelor of arts from the University of Toronto.
Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto-based illustrator. Her love for drawing started in a kindergarten art school after being kicked out of calligraphy class for refusing to convert to right-handedness. Formally trained in art history and cultural anthropology, she worked for several years as a university librarian until her passion for illustration called her out of that career and into the pursuit of a lifelong dream. Since then, Suharu has created illustrations for magazines, public art projects and children's books, including Why Humans Work: How Jobs Shape Our Lives and Our World in the Orca Think line. She also teaches illustration at OCAD University in Toronto.
