World of Rot: Learn All about the Wriggly, Slimy, Super-Cool Decomposers We Couldn’t Live Without

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

World of Rot takes readers on a deep dive into the process of decay, from the science behind it to an up-close and personal look at the organisms that do the dirty work to make our planet livable.

With a touch of humor and quirky full-color illustrations, kids will learn about the life-recycling system happening all around us—in the sea, in the soil, and even inside our own bodies. Profiles of decomposers such as hungry fungi and familiar worms, poop-slurping butterflies, and slimy banana slugs offer something to pique the curiosity of every kid. Readers will also learn the heroic role decomposers might play in fighting climate change and eating plastic.

About the Author

Britt Crow-Miller is the founding director of CityWild, a nonprofit organization with the mission of inspiring curiosity about the natural world through fun, exploration, and hands-on learning for kids and families, including those in underserved and historically marginalized communities. Her sustainability-related writing has been published by the Global Water Forum, State of the Planet, Huffington Post, and Harvard Business School. A parent to three young kids, Crow-Miller is also on the faculty in the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she directs the Sustainability Science graduate program.