Once a Wasteland: From Toxic Dump to National Park

Gr 1-3–Via Muldrow’s free verse poetry, this book takes readers on a whirlwind historical tour of Ohio’s Cuyahoga River Valley between Cleveland and Akron. It begins with the region’s ancient history, then explores the Industrial era—a period of heavy pollution in the area—and finally, modern ecological rehabilitation efforts, which culminated in the creation of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Charming and colorful full-bleed illustrations accompany the text. Back matter includes an author’s note and a list of four action items to keep waterways clean, though there’s no bibliography or list of further reading and resources. This ambitious picture book is unfortunately lacking in other areas as well. For instance, there’s a mere glancing mention of the history of Indigenous peoples in the Cuyahoga River Valley, while the use of passive language throughout doesn’t accurately reflect how the region’s pollution was caused by human action.