Get Discount 10% Off
Subscribe to our newsletters now and stay up-to-date with new arrivals, updates and deals.
MILLIONS OF TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM
Currency
Once a Wasteland: From Toxic Dump to National Park
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.This is a story of a happy ending. But it didn't start...
- $37.97 USD
$67.99 USD- $37.97 USD
- Unit price
- per
Please hurry! Only 175 left in stock
Couldn't load pickup availability
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.
This is a story of a happy ending. But it didn't start that way. The place? The Krejci salvage yard, in the Cuyahoga River valley between the Ohio cities of Cleveland and Akron. The problem? Pollution--and lots of it!
After decades of companies dumping industrial waste products in the salvage yard, the area had become so contaminated that nothing could live there. Wildlife died and people got sick. The Cuyahoga River was so polluted with toxic waste that it even caught fire! What could be done? The United States government stepped in, enforcing a full-scale cleanup of the dump that included the removal of nearly 400,000 tons of tainted soil. And then it was time to give the land a fresh start. New soil was brought in, and seeds were planted.
After 25 years, the land was healed. Now the area where once nothing could live is part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Not only does the park provide a vibrant home to thriving diverse wildlife, it also serves as an example of how once-devastated environments can change, heal, and become places of beauty for all.
Author: Diane Muldrow
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Published: 02/15/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.98lbs
Size: 11.24h x 9.33w x 0.42d
ISBN: 9781534113480
Audience: Ages 4-8
Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 11/21/2025 pg. 1
About the Author
Muldrow, Diane: - Diane Muldrow is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book series, and a prolific author of children's books. Her picture book We Planted a Tree was a 2010 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best selection. She is a retired children's book editor, and a proud Ohio University graduate. As a 6 1/2 year-old, she took part in the first Earth Day by helping clean up the creek and woods behind her Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home. She learned early that natural surroundings aren't to be taken for granted, and that people can make a difference in their communities. Diane has visited national parks all over the country, the world, and near her Las Vegas, New Mexico, home.Hodgson, Amy Jindra: - Amy Jindra Hodgson is an illustrator originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Growing up, her parents read to her every night, and she fell in love with the art of storytelling and creativity. She knew at a young age that her imagination and love for the arts would lead her to the world of children's book illustration. Amy's creative inspiration is driven by her wonderful family, friends, and good sushi. She now lives in Indiana, outside Chicago, with her husband and their loving giant Bernedoodle, Marley.
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
Shipping
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.