Healthy Life of Full Circle Recycling! Pratham Books Champions 2018

The featured book for the Pratham Books Champions Programme 2018 was A Cloud of Trash, written by Karanjeet Kaur and illustrated by Bhavana Vyas Vipparthi. I enrolled late that year, with barely two weeks to go, but once I held the book in my hands, I knew I had to take part. The story was simple yet thought-provoking — a girl weighed down by a literal cloud of trash until she finds a way to change her surroundings. The metaphor was powerful, and for me, it opened up a new way of looking at something I had long taken for granted: the waste we produce every day.

At first, I asked myself two very basic questions. What happens to the trash I throw away? Where does it go after it leaves my dustbin? And second, what if, like in the story, the trash I discarded came back to haunt me? These may sound like silly thoughts, but they nudged me into a rabbit hole of curiosity. I began researching more seriously, reading articles, and even observing how garbage collection worked in my own neighbourhood. What started as preparation for a storytelling session quickly became a personal project of awareness.

I discovered that in Chennai, where I live, the Corporation handles an enormous amount of mixed waste — wet kitchen waste, dry recyclables, and even harmful materials — all jumbled together. The waste is collected from street bins and dumped in two massive sites: Kodungaiyur and Perungudi. This process is part of what is called Integrated Solid Waste Management. It was shocking to learn that a majority of the waste, nearly 68%, comes from households, while the rest is from commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. The per capita waste data from across Indian cities was equally eye-opening: Chennai produced around 0.71 kg per person per day, one of the highest among major cities. These numbers added urgency to what I was about to share with children through a story.

The days leading up to International Literacy Day were a blur of planning. I had not secured a venue until the very last week. Finally, I approached Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School in West Mambalam, Chennai. To my relief, the Headmistress and teachers welcomed the idea and allotted me a slot to read to children from grades 3 and 4. I still remember arriving at the school on a bright Saturday morning, September 8, feeling like a bundle of nerves. Coincidentally, the school was celebrating Vinayaka Chaturthi, which felt like a divine reassurance. I whispered a silent prayer to Lord Ganesha, asking for guidance as I prepared to face the eager faces of young listeners.

The teachers were wonderfully supportive. They gave me time to discuss my session plan and made arrangements for the reading. I began by showing the children the cover of A Cloud of Trash, letting them guess what the story might be about. As I read, I paused often, asking them to imagine what it would feel like to have a cloud of trash following them around. Some wrinkled their noses, others giggled, and a few looked thoughtful. By the time I reached the end, they were fully absorbed in the idea that trash is not just something to “throw away” — it is something we live with, unless we manage it wisely.

What made the session truly memorable was the discussion that followed. The children quickly latched on to the idea of segregating waste at source. We spoke about how separating wet and dry waste could change the way trash is handled. I shared examples I had read about: wet waste being composted into nutrient-rich manure, dry waste being recycled if it wasn’t spoiled by food, and harmful chemical waste being sent through proper channels to avoid pollution. The children asked questions that surprised me: Can compost be used in terrace gardens? What happens if we mix plastic and food waste? Their curiosity reassured me that the message of the book had reached them.

To make the concept tangible, I prepared a small informational flyer summarizing what I had learned about waste management. This flyer was a work-in-progress, but it gave the children something to take home and discuss with their families. The flyer emphasized simple but powerful steps: separate waste into wet and dry, compost kitchen waste whenever possible, and make recycling a household habit.

Another small but significant change happened in my own home. Inspired by the story and my research, I purchased a Daily Dump Kambha composter, a terracotta unit designed for households. Setting it up in my balcony was a learning curve, but soon I was composting peels, leftovers, and other kitchen waste. Turning my own trash into compost gave me a new sense of responsibility and pride. It also became a story in itself — one I could share with children as a living example of how small steps can make a difference.

Interestingly, the day before my school session, I held a smaller, informal reading with a child from my residential building. That one-on-one conversation gave me confidence. The next day, in the school setting, the experience multiplied — not only was I reading to a larger group, but the children’s energy added layers of spontaneity that no amount of planning could create. I had gone in with a structured approach, but the children’s eagerness reshaped the session.

The biggest takeaway for me was this: children absorb more than we expect, and they often reflect back lessons in fresh, imaginative ways. For them, the book was a fun story about a girl and her unusual problem. But as we talked, I could see their awareness growing about their own dustbins, their classrooms, and their neighborhoods. For me, it was not just about completing a Champions session; it was about planting a seed of responsibility that could grow into everyday action.

The Pratham Books Champions Programme 2018 was more than a storytelling event. It was an awakening — for me, for the children, and perhaps even for the parents who later heard about it. Stories can simplify difficult subjects like waste management, making them approachable for young minds. And when those young minds carry the message forward, change feels possible.

That year, I didn’t just tell a story. I began living it. And the cloud of trash that once seemed distant became the spark that led me to compost at home, talk about waste segregation, and share the idea of a healthier, cleaner world with children.

Source: Pratham Reading Champions 2018

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