Journey to Away One Raccoon's Mission to Change the World

Inspired by the simple yet profound question, 'Where does our trash go when we throw it away?,' this book was created to spark curiosity, challenge the way we think about waste, and empower children (and their families!) to become environmental changemakers. Through Mel and her raccoon friends' journey into the city's waste system, young readers will uncover the hidden world of trash and how we can be part of the solution.

Amelia Eichel is a plastic reducer and nature lover who has worked with children for 15 years. She is the co-founder of Waste Free Santa Cruz and CEO and co-founder of Wonderfil, a refill technology company that builds autonomous refill stations for liquid and cream products to eliminate the need for single-use plastic bottles. Amelia was inspired to co-author this book by the lasting impact that early education about waste had on her own life. From a fourth-grade tour of Alameda County's Materials Recovery Facility, her parents' commitment to minimizing household waste, and then focusing on circular economy research in college, Amelia has maintained a deep curiosity about sustainability since childhood. From the household level to the city and global scale, she hopes to pass that curiosity and pursuit of change on to the next generation.
Sharona Shnayder is a Nigerian/Israeli climate and peace activist, National Geographic Young Explorer, and Founder of the global grassroots movement Tuesdays for Trash - tackling the garbage crisis facing our planet. She believes that the home we share is more than just soil under our feet - it's a language. A language we all understand, and it has the potential to bring the world together in ways we've been taught to forget. That's why she co-wrote Journey to Away, a children's book helping the next generation turn waste into action and hope.
Sydney Fort is an artist living in Portland, Oregon. She takes inspiration from the beautiful Pacific Northwest for her artwork that includes drawing, graphic design, photography, and sewing. She believes that individuals can make an impact and serve her local area through neighborhood cleanups and mending clothing for the community to reduce fiber waste.