Now in its 21st year, Recycle Week is Recycle Now’s flagship annual event, starting on Monday 14th October. A celebration of recycling across the nation to galvanise the public into recycling more of the right things, more often. And so this week, I have chosen books on this year’s theme of Rescue Me – Recycle.
The first, Somebody Crunched Colin by Sarah Roberts, illustrated by Hannah Jayne Lewin, is a thought provoking story about the trouble litter can cause in the environment.
Colin is no ordinary flower. Colin smells appealing – just like the other flowers around him. The only trouble is, he crackles and crunches and flutters in the wind. He can’t seem to find where he belongs, but he smells so delicious that all the animals want to eat him… But Colin is a crisp packet!
A beautifully illustrated picture book with a powerful message about plastic pollution and the benefits of recycling from environmental expert Sarah Roberts. The perfect story to introduce children to recycling.
My next two choices help you to make new things out of household objects you might otherwise throw away.
Creative Crafting: A First Book Of Upcycling illustrated by Daniela Sosa has sixteen simple step-by-step upcycling craft projects for children.
Creative Crafting is an accessible introduction to upcycling for children from as young as five to enjoy. With bright engaging illustrations and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, there are sixteen fun projects that can be made from recycling and everyday items from around the house. Quick and easy makes, such as bedroom bunting from cereal boxes and juggling balls using odd socks to more complicated activities like tin can tea-lights and denim dog toys, mean there’s something for every child.
Perfect for crafternoons, rainy days and holidays, give your recycling a new lease of life and turn it into something to treasure for ever!
I Am Not An Old Sock by Sara Stanford encourages children to reduce, reuse and recycle! Gather up your odd socks and a few other bits and bobs, and turn them into a horse or octopus, or even a toy for your cat or one for your dog. This is the perfect book for fun projects to keep kids busy when they’re stuck indoors, using scrap materials from around the house.
With step-by-step instructions and handy cut-outs this book has ten brilliant projects (and a dozen variations) that are sure to keep kids happy and engaged with hours of fun. Animal lovers can make their own owl or bunny and budding performers could craft their first set of juggling balls. Those with the smallest of fingers may need a little help with cutting and gluing, but these projects are a fantastic introduction into crafting and perfect for kids to make on their own or fun for the whole family.
