Green Jolene and the neighborhood swap

Soon-to-be third-grader Jolene Greenfield's best friend, Amie, has moved away, leaving Jolene to entertain herself over the summer. The chance to meet her new neighbors--and their unfriendly daughter, Brittany--doesn't occur until garbage day. After passing judgment on the large boxes of Brittany's toys, Jolene takes inventory of her own collection and is shocked to discover she owns 88 toys! Jolene is an intuitive protagonist, and despite a few hiccups, she quickly organizes a neighborhood swap meet, making new friends along the way. As one of the first books to be published within the Disney Planet Possible Books program, the Green Jolene series starter aims to inspire young readers to engage in environmental advocacy, conservation, and stewardship. To boost this mission, publication measures are environmentally conscious. Yong's clean-line grayscale artwork appears as full-page and spot illustrations, and it complements Mass' buoyant voice in Jolene. Quirky characters add to the charm, keeping the importance of environmentally conscious decision-making light and digestible for young readers.

Inspired by her parents' Summer Family Fun Day tradition of sorting the family's trash, personal belongings, and miscellaneous odds and ends into labeled bins, incoming third grader Jolene Greenfield counts all the items cluttering her bedroom and is dismayed to learn that she owns 88 toys, most of which she never plays with. Her parents suggest a swap meet during which everyone on their block can trade unwanted stuff, and Jolene--whose mother affectionately calls her Miss Bossy Pants--takes charge of making invitations, signage, and tickets. "There were actually five r's (reduce, repair, recycle, refill, and reuse)," according to Jolene, a conceit that this approachable illustrated chapter book tackles with aplomb. Some references might not land with the target audience (Jolene and her BFF Amie "both knew what it was like to be named after famous country songs") and certain items, like Jolene's rubber rain boots and a juice box, may be more difficult to recycle, repurpose, or donate IRL than the book suggests. Still, by detailing the practical preparations necessary to accomplish Jolene's goals, Mass (The Lost Library) demonstrates environmental principles in action, making for a thoughtful and fun introduction to eco-conscious concepts. Bouncy grayscale illustrations by Yong (The Minor Miracle) feature throughout. Age 6--8. (Feb.)