Six-year-old Stella can’t wait for her class field trip to the local nature center. But on the bus ride there, she notices something troubling litter scattered along the road. Why is there so much garbage outside, and what can one little girl really do about it?
Pickup Pals follows Stella as she learns that small actions like picking up a piece of trash, recycling a bottle, inspiring a friend to help can add up to a healthier, more beautiful planet. Together with her new “Pickup Pals,” she discovers that caring for the Earth isn’t just a grown-up job. It’s something every kid can start doing today.
Written for children ages 4–10, Pickup Pals is a warm, beautifully illustrated story that turns environmental awareness into an adventure kids will want to revisit again and again.
Pickup Pals is more than a story, it’s an invitation. Every time a child picks up a piece of trash, says no to littering, or reminds a friend to recycle, they become a Pickup Pal too.
Melinda wrote this book to show kids they don’t have to wait until they’re grown up to make a difference. Whether it’s at the park, the beach, or on the walk to school, every small act of care adds up to a healthier planet for everyone.
Ready to join the movement? Grab a copy of Pickup Pals and start your own adventure in caring for the Earth.
Melinda M. Fons spent 40 years as a surgical nurse, where she championed recycling and repurposing projects to reduce waste in the operating room. Today, she’s a self-proclaimed environmental activist who spends her free time picking up litter and has organized volunteer cleanup groups across multiple states.
A mother of two and grandmother of four, Melinda wrote Pickup Pals to pass on the lessons she’s learned to the next generation: that caring for our planet starts with simple, everyday choices anyone can make, including kids.
Melinda doesn’t just write about caring for the Earth; she lives it. From organizing neighborhood cleanups to visiting classrooms and community events to read Pickup Pals aloud, she’s dedicated to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
Recent highlights include reading Pickup Pals to young volunteers at an Earth Day cleanup event on Marco Island, where she helped recruit a whole new group of “pickup pals” to the cause.
Whether you’re looking for an Earth Day book for kids, a classroom read-aloud, or a meaningful gift for a young reader, Pickup Pals offers a fun way to inspire children to care for the planet.
Pickup Pals is recommended for children ages 4–10, though readers as young as 1 and up to 12 have enjoyed the story. The book is 36 pages long.
Pickup Pals follows six-year-old Stella as she learns, alongside her classmates, how small everyday actions like picking up litter and recycling help, protect the Earth for people, animals, and future generations.
Yes. Pickup Pals is a popular choice for Earth Day read-alouds, classroom environmental units, and family conversations about caring for the planet.
You can purchase Pickup Pals directly from our Shop page or on Amazon.
