Play Book Tag discussion

For Steeplechase Earth Day mini Recycling tag, I again went with 2 childrens books tagged 5x or more - one about plastic bags and another about clothing. Both show using craft and DIY, which are both things to encourage in children and youth.

1. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
5 stars - tagged Recycling 28x

This is an excellent picture book for children telling the story of one woman's creative repurposing of plastic bags in a rural village in Africa led to healthier and more prosperous community. For sure it shows both the change one person can make as well as how using handcraft using recycled materials can contribute to a cleaner, safer, environment. The art work is colorful and lovely, incorporating the textile patterns of West Africa. For the adults and older children reading the book to younger ones, there are at the end a pronunciation guide, a timeline (showing just how much Isatou and her village achieved beteen 1998 and 2014) , an author's note with additional information on Isatou and the empowerment center she started in her village, and a bibliography of further reading for children and young adults of environmental achievements in Africa. Oh, and there are wonderful photos as well!

2. I Had a Favorite Dress: A Picture Book by Boni Ashburn, illustrations by Julia Denos.
4 stars - tagged recycling 5x

Fashion is one of the least sustainably sensitive businesses there is, and we the consumer are huge contributers to that failure. When clothes don't fit or are damaged, we toss them out rather than repurpose them or even, for most people, recycle them through donation. This charming lovely children's book teaches children how an item of clothing can get new life again and again. I just love this little book. It pulls attention away from something being 'old', shifting focus on 'favorite' and 'loved' and how that can lead to a 'new' garment, from the old. It also, for those children wearing the hand-me-downs of older siblings (very common when I was growing up), it shows how small changes can make it uniquely your own. I love the art work illustrating this; it suits DIY and handmade.

Because of your review, I just requested I Had a Favorite Dress: A Picture Book from the library.

Lyn wrote: "Because of your review, I just requested I Had a Favorite Dress: A Picture Book from the library."

🤗 Why am I not surprised? You are my Grumpy Monkey buddy!

And I just realized another reason I chose to do children's books when BnB gave us the option ... I miss Jim Panzee!

I'm not familiar with this book, but it reminds me of two picture books based on a Jewish folktale:

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Something from Nothing

I'll have to add them, and the favorite dress book to my Nana TBR for when my small person moves on from board books that are most interesting when they are being chewed.

Nothing to do with recycling, but this reminded me of one of my favorite children's books about empathy and imagination - The Hundred Dresses

@Robin - that looks wonderful!

@JGrace - I was really charmed by the Favorite Dress book. As you could no doubt tell. I suspect your grand-little one will adore it.

I do collect and read a few children's books - most relate to Christmas. They are a great thing to collect when travelling because you find a children's book, especially for Christmas, that reflects that location - like the Night Before Christmas in the Bayou where Santa's canoe is pulled by alligators. I'm branching out a bit - these fyi are all for me as I have no little ones in the family. But my clients are busy reproducing and I often gift books there -- when I find a special one.