A Recycling Adventure to the Steel Mill

by Alexanderson, Jessica; Rudover, Brad W.; Jaffer, Shaziya M.; Trask, Adam; Fraser, Travis; Schwartz, Jennifer

• ISBN13: 9798992604405
• ISBN10: 8992604408
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-11-05
• Publisher: BookBaby

Summary

Your favorite recycling heroes are back!
Join Ellie and her sister Lexi, along with Mr. Ferrous Magglio—the talking magnet who loves metal recycling—and Gallium the Unicorn, as they continue their journey to learn what happens to metal after it leaves the scrapyard. This time, they're joined by new friends Senni the Sennebogen Giraffe and the amazing team at Nucor Steel in Seattle.
After seeing Daddy's truck get shredded at the scrapyard, Ellie and her friends follow the recycled metal to the Steel Mill. There, they suit up in safety gear to watch the incredible process of metal being melted down and transformed into something brand new.
From rebar in buildings to steel in the Space Needle, the Unicorn Association headquarters, new trucks, and so much more, the kids discover that recycled steel is everywhere!
But their adventure doesn't stop there; at the end of the story, Ellie and her family travel all the way to Hawai'i, where they see a real volcano erupting lava and compare it to the molten metal they witnessed in the mill. The journey shows Ellie—and young readers—that recycling is as powerful as nature itself.
Packed with color, fun, and adventure, "A Recycling Adventure to the Steel Mill" teaches kids that they can help protect our planet and oceans by recycling metal, even if they don't live near the sea. If you look around your community, you'll spot recycled steel all around you, proving that every can or piece of metal saved from the trash has the power to become something amazing.

Author Biography

Jessica Alexanderson—also known as Scuba Jess—is the Executive Director of the Recycling Society and the founder of Recycling Is Like Magic. A passionate scuba diver from Seattle, Jessica was inspired to shift from the shipping industry into the world of metal recycling after seeing firsthand the impact of litter and marine debris on the ocean. Her mission is simple yet powerful: teach kids that recycling metal is like magic—it can be recycled forever and should never be tossed in the trash or oceans.
Jessica is the co-author of "The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans" and "A Recycling Adventure to the Scrapyard," books that have already inspired students across the United States to recycle millions of cans. She also helped launch the Million Cans Recycling Contest, where schools compete in a fun, nationwide challenge to collect cans, raise funds, and become lifelong recyclers. Over the past two years, this program has empowered schools to recycle more than 3.5 million aluminum cans while learning how their everyday actions can protect the planet.
Through her books, nonprofit work, and school programs, Jessica's goal is to make recycling fun, easy, and exciting for kids everywhere. She believes students across the country should take pride in the cans made in their communities, and she inspires them to pledge never to throw a can in the trash again.
When she's not writing, visiting schools, or working with scrapyards and aluminum companies, you can usually find her exploring the underwater world, where her passion for protecting the oceans began. Live Long and Prosper.

Brad Rudover is a lifelong advocate for recycling and sustainability. Raised in a Detroit scrapyard family, he learned early that all metals have value and should never be wasted. Today, Brad runs Detroit Scrap and founded Scrap University, where he helps train the next generation of recyclers. He is the co-author of "The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans" and "A Recycling Adventure to the Scrapyard," and author of "Walk Good Business," combining industry expertise with his passion for teaching.
As a founding member of the Million Cans Recycling Contest, Brad continues to inspire schools, students, and communities across the country to see recycling not as a chore, but as an opportunity to do good business for people and the planet.
Shaziya M. Jaffer is an elementary school teacher in the Burnaby School District and the co-author of "The Girl Who Recycled 1 Million Cans" and "A Recycling Adventure to the Scrapyard." Passionate about education, she loves inspiring her students—and young readers everywhere—to care for the planet through everyday actions like recycling. By combining her teaching background with storytelling, Shaziya helps make recycling fun, magical, and easy for kids to understand.
Adam Trask is the amazing artist behind the vibrant illustrations in the Recycling Is Like Magic book series. With a gift for bringing color, fun, and life to every page, Adam transforms stories about recycling into worlds that kids can't wait to dive into. His playful style makes metal come alive with character and magic, helping young readers see that recycling isn't just important—it's exciting and full of possibilities. Adam's art inspires students to become superheroes for the planet, one can at a time.
Travis is an essential part of the creative team, working alongside artist Adam Trask to help bring the Recycling Is Like Magic stories to life. With his support, the illustrations are filled with even more detail, fun, and imagination—helping transform recycling into magical adventures that inspire kids everywhere.
Jennifer is the word wizard behind the Recycling Is Like Magic series, serving as editor on all three books. With a sharp eye for detail and a gift for storytelling flow, she keeps the team on track and ensures every page shines. Her thoughtful edits, guidance, and steady encouragement bring clarity and polish to the books—helping transform big recycling ideas into magical stories kids love to read.