Author: Anna Alter
Publisher: Christy Ottaciano Books, Henry Holt and Company March 2009
Ages: 4 and up
Theme: Hands on Recycling Projects; craft/activity book, creative ways to be "green"
Opening and Synopsis:
The waves came in creeping,
stealing and sweeping-
they snatched Sarah's flip-flop,
and took it away!
The shoe went afloat,
like a pink plastic boat,
and some lazy old crab
had a ship for the day!
This is a green activity book about reuse. This book is colorful, inventive and full of adorable animals being creative. Before each activity, a back story in rhyme describes what happened to the item to be recycled.
Also, Anna provides the ingredients and recipes for twelve recycling projects that kids can do with their parents while using random things they don't use; like flip flops, tins cans, and shower curtains.
Why I like this book: The instructions are easy to follow and not loaded with supplies to gather. For example on the old red shoe project, Anna lists 6 items; a shoe, a dust rag, measuring tape, a small flower pot, a starter plant, and potting soil. My kids and I also enjoyed the rhyming story in the beginning of each project. It was a nice touch to add for this very crafty green book.
Author's book website- http://oldredshoe.com/
At this website you will find plenty of information that teachers can use or parents can print out at home. There is teacher projects, project guides, a parent curriculum guide, and coloring pages. There is also information on landfills, recycling, sewing, and tip for doing the crafts. Teachers may find this book very useful especially on Earth Day which is coming up in April.
You can also find more information at her other two websites:
Click here To go to Susanna Hill's blog and see the complete list of books with resources for Perfect Picture Books!