Make It! designed by Jane Bull with photography by Andy Crawford
Picture book about creating art from recycled trash published by Dorling Kindersley Limited

Nicely designed with bright, colourful photographs and an enthusiastic, conversational tone Make It! by Jane Bull challenges readers to check their garbage cans for all sorts of “found” art materials rather than buying new. Highlighting the the importance of recycling, Bull estimates that half of the contents of a typical garbage can has the potential to be recycled. She encourages readers to sort the materials into paper, plastic, metal and fabric.

The cheerful, inspiring art projects in Make It! have been organized according to source materials. Colourful photographs show examples of ways to fold and weave paper, to make a pot from newspaper, to create 3D art and to convert junk mail into mâché bowls and jewelry.

The plastic section of Make I! shows us how to make a fun rainbow frame and also many creative ways to reuse water bottles, bubble wrap, candy wrappers and plastic lids from bottles. Metal can be recycled to make robots, rockets and aliens, mirror mobiles and moving pictures. Wool gloves and hats are transformed into stuffed creatures and fabric is woven into mats while garments become purses and soft cushions.

Readers will be on the hunt for bottle caps, stray gloves, newspapers, paper scraps, empty tin cans and too small clothing as they discover fun ways to art from recycled trash.

Great ideas for children aged six and up.

The copy we examined was hardcover and “Made with Care” using FSC certified paper. The paperback version has recently been released.

Make It at Amazon.ca

Make It! at Amazon.com

Storytime Standouts - Raising Children Who Love to Read

Green Crafts – written by Megan Friday
Eco friendly craft book published by Walter Foster

When developing my Growing and Learning Green workshop, one of my goals was to include some eco friendly crafts that make good use recycled materials. While waiting for inspiration to strike, I came across and purchased Craft Star: Green Crafts: Become an earth-friendly craft star, step by easy step! written by Megan Friday.

Bright and cheery, the book is generously illustrated with photographs and drawings. It includes introductory remarks, information about tools and materials, project templates and sixteen eco friendly crafts ranging from decorating a canvas tote bag (with paint or fabric) to working with reusable water bottles, gift bags and picture frames. As well, there are ideas for designing and decorating t-shirts, working with used blue jeans fabric, making a special gift for Earth Day, creating lightswitch plates with eco-friendly messages and using a decoupage technique to decorate a glass bowl.

The eco friendly crafts will be enjoyed by children aged eight and up.

Craft Star: Green Crafts at Amazon.com

Craft Star: Green Crafts at Amazon.ca

Be sure to visit our page highlighting picture books about caring for our environment, ecosystems, recycling, reducing our environmental footprint and more. Terrific resources for Earth Day and Arbor Day.

Storytime Standouts - Raising Children Who Love to Read