Let’s Clean Up!

Manny is back in Super Manny Cleans Up! Kelly DiPucchio and Stephanie Graegin have created a story that is all about environmentalism. Manny and Gertie are seeing that there is a lot of trash in their local park and decide to do something very bold and important: to clean it up. With help from their friends (some real and some not so real) they clean up!

The story is sweet. You think it is going to be another story about friendship and using their imagination. And while they do, it is also about bravery. But in a different way than the last book. Manny was brave last time because he stood up to a bully. This time they are brave because they stand up to Litter Bugs! The worst criminal of them all! The nice part is the fact that Manny and Gertie just start cleaning up. They do not go to the adults and say, “What should we do?” or there is none of Manny and Gertie having to tell adults they should help.  The adults see that people are doing it and the chain reaction happens. No preaching just doing. While there is not a lot of action, there is a story that makes you think.

Graegin has made delightfully fun, bright and detailed images to complement DIPucchio’s text. The best part of the illustrations is how the “real” and “imagination” are separated so you know which real and which part is is play, but is also part of the surroundings as a child does not “step out of reality” they just bring their play into reality.