Last week we thought we have a special diary we never seen before, but this week we have it again!This time this diary is really special as it's written by "a laid-back aluminum can", describing its very unique journey.
Our book today is:
The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling
Author: Alison Inches
Over a period of eight years, Alison Inches was an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Putnam as well as a Senior Editor and Writer for The Jim Henson Company.
An author since 1994, she has written over 30 books for children, including a bestseller entitled Go to Bed Fred! for Workman Publishing. She is also the author of three adult trade books: In the Kitchen With Miss Piggy (Time-Life), The Candy Bar Cookbook: Baking with America’s Favorite Candy and a biography about Jim Henson entitled, Designs and Doodles: A muppet Sketchbook for Harry Abrams Publishers. Currently, she is writing children's books for Viking, Simon & Schuster and Hartcourt.
Illustrator: Mark Chambers
Ages: 4 - 6
Publisher: Little Simon (an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division)
Published on: May 2009
What this book is about? (from Little Green Book's website)
Peek into this diary of an aluminum can as it goes on a journey from inside a bauxite rock under the beaches of Jamaica, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life...as a baseball bat!
This 8x8 papergback storybook is told from the point of view of a laid-back aluminum can, kids can share in his daily experiences and inner thoughts through his personal journal. The laid-back little can goes from being a small speck of alumina inside a bauxite rock under the beaches of Jamaica to an aluminum soda can to a baseball bat. The diary entries will be fun and humorous yet point out the ecological significance behind each product and the resources used to make it.
Why you should get it?
This is a new book in the Little Green Books series of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. If you follow our blog for a while, you already know we are partnering with the S&S, following the release of this new green series last year, to help educating children about green issues. This series is doing it really well, in a way that is both fun and educating, and this book is no exception.
Alison Inches, who is the the author of another great book in this series 'I Can Save the Earth!' does it again. She creates a great story that is focused on a journey of an aluminum can that starts as a raw material, becomes a can and eventually gets recycled into a baseball bat. The story gives children a clear demonstration of what actually happens when we recycle things and gets them to know the real story of stuff.
I like the journal style of the story which makes it more interesting and easy to follow. Inches' writing with the beautiful illustrations of Mark Chambers also make sure the fun component is not to be forgotten, which is definitely important when it comes to books for this age (4-6).
Like many green children's books, this book's creativity is very impressive, but it has also a very clear added-value to offer to young children which makes it a great book and a recommended one!
It's also important to remind that the book, as all of the other Little Green Books, walks the talk as it is printed on recycled paper with 100% vegetable based ink.
You can get more information about the Little Green Books at http://simonlittlegreen.com.The site includes information about the books in the series, a family-friendly blog, interactive games, earth-friendly downloadable activities, green tips (including tips of Eco-Libris), a green glossary, partners page and more! We'll cover this new website more thoroughly very soon so stay tuned!
GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!
We're giving away one copy of the book, courtesy of the book's publicist, and of course a tree will be planted for the copy!
How you can win? please add a comment below with an answer the following question: what is the material or item you or your kids really really like to recycle? Submissions are accepted until Monday, June 1, 12PM EST. The winner will be announced the following day.More relevant links:
An interview with Alison Inches on Eco-Libris blog
Review of 'Little Monkey' and 'Little Panda': http://ecolibris.blogspot.com/2008/10/mondays-green-books-serieslittle-panda.html
An interview with Lara Bergen, the author of 'The Polar Bears' Home'
I CAN SAVE THE EARTH! contest web page
On Eco-Libris website: http://www.ecolibris.net/littlegreenbooks.asp
If you're looking for other interesting green-themed books, you are invited to check out our green books page on our website's green resources section.
Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net
