About the Holiday

World Greatness Day was established in 2019 by Professor Patrick Businge as a day to highlight the greatness in every person. The holiday encourages people to acknowledge their own unique brilliance, engage in the pursuits that bring them happiness and fulfillment, and thank their mentors or teachers, family, friends, and anyone who has had a positive impact on their lives. Children are just getting started on discovering who they are and what activities excite them. Today’s book celebrates children’s creativity, ingenuity, friendships, and empathy. Why not make every day Greatness Day and discover your and your children’s full potential!

Thank you to Charlesbridge for sending me a copy of Sounds of Trash for review!

Sounds of Trash (STEAMWORKS)

Written by Tina Athaide | Illustrated by Neha Rawat

Pran, Raúl, and Mira couldn’t wait for the annual block party. This year, though, it was being held in the park. This meant no electricity, and “no electricity meant no booming bhangra beats.” What was a party without music? Pran’s grandpa suggested they make their own music. But how? They didn’t have any instruments they could carry along. The three friends weren’t sure what to do. That night Pran had a dream, and in the morning he woke up with a fantastic idea.

When Raúl and Mira heard Pran’s idea to make their own instruments, they were both excited. They had four days to think and tinker and create. First, they brainstormed ideas and drew designs. Then they set off through the neighborhood to find materials and recyclables to make their instruments. They came back with their wagons full of cans, bottles, jars, and small items to turn into shakers. The next day, they searched their homes for anything that could become drums and drumsticks.

While the three friends were testing their instruments, other kids in the neighborhood heard the sounds and were inspired to make their own instruments too. On Friday—one day before the block party—Mira, Pran, and Raúl made stringed instruments that twanged, pinged, and thrummed. Saturday finally arrived, and they brought all of the instruments they’d made to the park. When they looked at them now, though, they worried that there weren’t enough for everyone. They were in for a surprise! As more and more neighbors arrived, many were playing their own homemade instruments! “It was a marvelous mash, all these sounds made from trash.”

“Picking up STEAM” Back matter includes a glossary; a discussion on the science of sound and how the type, size, and material of an instrument affects vibrations and sound; the various steps of the engineering design process; and an invitation for kids to create their own instruments.

Tina Athaide invites children to become creators through her infectious, enthusiastic storytelling. As readers follow Pran, Mira, and Raúl as they brainstorm designs, gather materials, and experiment with prototypes, Athaide demonstrates the steps of engineering design in a natural way that will excite and encourage kids to try it on there own.

Neha Rawat’s expressive illustrations teem with clear depictions of the designs the three friends make, including the number of items needed, their size, how the instruments will be played, and so much more. They also show that part of creating is experimenting as well as rejecting and rethinking plans that don’t work. Rawat’s portraits of the children’s eager collaboration and persistence over the four days are joyful and applicable for demonstrating cooperation in group projects.

Sounds of Trash is an inspiring story of ingenuity, creativity, and friendship that will spark independent explorations into the sciences of sound and engineering as well as creative pursuits at home and in the classroom. The book is a top pick for any library’s STEAM/STEM or picture book collection.

About STEAMWORKS Books from Charlesbridge

STEAMWORKS features children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific and mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems and answer questions that matter to them. Playful stories and extension activities ignite excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and empower children as thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.

Ages 4 – 8

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546847

About the Author

Tina Athaide is an educator and children’s book author who wrote the middle grade novel Orange For The Sunsets, which was awarded the Geoffrey Bilson Award by the Canadian Children’s Book Council, and Wings to Soar, as well as picture book Meena’s Mindful Moment. Tina was born in Uganda and emigrated to London and then Canada and now lives in Southern California. Visit her at tinaathaide.com.

About the Illustrator

Neha Rawat is a children’s book author-illustrator from India who loves stories that explore emotions, relationships, humor, culture, and diversity. She has illustrated many books, including Zuni and the Memory Jar, Masala Chai, Fast and Slow, and Buddha and the Rose. Visit her at neharawat.com.

You can purchase Sounds of Trash from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Cómo suena la basura (Spanish Edition) (STEAMWORKS)

Written by Tina Athaide | Illustrated by Neha Rawat | Translated by Anyeliz Pagan Munoz

Cuando Pran y sus amistades se enteran de que la fiesta del vecindario se trasladó al parque donde no habrá música, deciden encontrar la manera de que esta forme parte de la celebración. Después de algunas pruebas y más de un prototipo hecho con materiales reciclables, ¡están listos para ingeniar un día lleno de jazz y bhangra!

Amplía lo aprendido más allá de la historia con el material de apoyo elaborado por expertos que incluye información adicional sobre el sonido y el proceso de ingeniería de diseño y actividades STEAM divertidas.

STEAMWORKS presenta a niños de diversos trasfondos y habilidades que utilizan el pensamiento científico-matemático para solucionar problemas cotidianos y responder a preguntas que les interesan. Estas historias lúdicas y las actividades de extensión despiertan el entusiasmo por la ciencia, la tecnología, la ingeniería, las artes y las matemáticas (STEAM) y empoderan a los niños para pensar, solucionar problemas e innovar.

Tina Athaide (tinaathaide.com) es educadora y autora de libros infantiles. Escribió la novela para niños de 8 a 12 años Orange for the Sunsets, la cual recibió el premio Geoffrey Bilson otorgado por el Canadian Children’s Book Council, y Wings to Soar, al igual que el libro ilustrado Meena’s Mindful Moment. Tina nació en Uganda y emigró a Londres, luego a Canadá y ahora vive en el sur de California.

Neha Rawat (neharawat.com) es autora e ilustradora de libros infantiles, proveniente de la India, y le encantan las historias que exploran las emociones, las relaciones, el humor, las culturas y la diversidad. Ha ilustrado numerosos libros, entre ellos Zuni and the Memory Jar, Masala Chai, Fast and Slow y Buddha and the Rose.

Ages 4 – 8

Charlesbridge, 2026 | ISBN 978-1623546854

You can purchase Cómo suena la basura from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review