Bilingual English/Spanish. A young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala.

Ixchel wants to follow in the long tradition of weaving on backstrap looms, just as her mother, grandmother, and most Mayan women have done for more than two thousand years. But Ixchel's mother is too busy preparing her weavings for market. If they bring a good price, they will have money to pay for Ixchel's school and books. And besides, there is not enough extra thread for Ixchel to practice with.

Disappointed, Ixchel first tries weaving with blades of grass, and then with bits of wool, but no one would want to buy the results. As she walks around her village, Ixchel finds it littered with colorful plastic bags. There is nowhere to put all the bags, so they just keep accumulating.

Suddenly, Ixchel has an idea! She collects and washes the plastic bags. Then she cuts each bag into thin strips. Sitting at her loom, Ixchel weaves the plastic strips into a colorful fabric that looks like a beautiful rainbow--just like the weavings of Mayan women before her.

Change starts with planting trees. It starts with turning off faucets, and reusing and recycling. Most importantly, change starts with us This encouraging preschool read-aloud demonstrates simple yet mighty examples of environmental activism and ways in which young readers can take care of the earth. Whether it's biking places with family or picking up litter with friends, Change Starts with Us proves that everyone has the power to build a better world.

What if less could be more?

A child's bedroom, and the rest of his house, has become cluttered with stuff. But when one small act of giving something away sparks joy, he keeps going--and before you know it, his little sister, friends, and family get involved in donating items to people in need and bringing the whole community together for a swap party. Here is a heartening story that illustrates for the youngest readers how less can be MORE: more space for living, loving, and knowing that we already have PLENTY.

Brought to life in intricate collage by award-winning artist Oge Mora, More or Less takes the meaning of reduce, reuse, recycle into the realm of community-building and the cultivation of kindness and meaning.

One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William's gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William--and his town--are changed forever.

With breathtaking illustrations and spare, sweet text, this masterpiece about enjoying the beauty of nature is sure to become an instant classic.

One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William's gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William--and his town--are changed forever.

With breathtaking illustrations and spare, sweet text, this masterpiece about enjoying the beauty of nature is sure to become an instant classic.

Empty things, broken things, yucky things -- follow the journey of recycled objects as they move through the recycling process in order to be reused in all sorts of interesting ways. With stylish, contemporary artwork from award-winning illustrator Klas Fahlén and friendly narrative text by Polly Faber, this engrossing picture book introduces all the people, processes, machines, and vehicles involved in recycling and trash disposal!

From garbage collectors and waste recycling center workers to container ship captains and landfill employees, children will be fascinated to find out how trash is managed!

Additional nonfiction back matter includes three pages of fully illustrated recycling facts and tips to inspire kids to reduce waste and reuse items.

From a tall tree growing in the forest--to the checkout counter at the grocery store--one little bag finds its way into the hands of a young boy on the eve of his first day of school.

And so begins an incredible journey of one little bag that is usedand reusedand reused again.

In a three-generation family, the bag is transporter of objects and keeper of memories. And when Grandfather comes to the end of his life, the family finds a meaningful new way for the battered, but much-loved little bag to continue its journey in the circle of life.

When chance, or fate, throws two twelve-year-olds together on board a scientific research ship at the edge of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it's not all smooth sailing!

Jeremy JB Barnes is looking forward to spending the summer before seventh grade hanging on the beach. But his mother, a scientist, has called for him to join her aboard a research ship where, instead, he'll spend his summer seasick and bored as he stares out at the endless plastic, microbeads, and other floating debris, both visible and not, that make up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Miles and miles away, twelve-year-old Sidney Miller is trying to come up with an alternate activity worthy of convincing her overprotective parents that she can skip summer camp.

When Jeremy is asked to find the contact information for a list of important international scientists and invite them to attend a last-minute Emergency Global Summit, he's excited to have a chance to actually do something that matters to the mission. How could he know that the Sidney Miller he messages is not the famous marine biologist he has been tasked with contacting, but rather a girl making podcasts from her bedroom--let alone that she would want to sneak aboard the ship?

Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner's Consider the Octopus is a comedy of errors, mistaken identity, and synchronicity. Above all, it is a heartfelt story about friendship and an empowering call to environmental protection, especially to our young people who are already stepping up to help save our oceans and our Earth.

In this conservation-themed book, gentle verse reminds the reader of Earth's beauties--starting with one wide sweeping sky, two honey bees and continuing all the way to ten fields to plow. The text then starts counting backwards, listing simple ways children can help, such as reducing waste and reusing items. The conclusion takes us back to number one with the book's key message: One Earth so beautiful. Remember--only one. At once, both celebration and challenge, this book will encourage children to take better care of the planet.

Waste not, want not! A patterned flour sack becomes a clever creation in this story set in the late 1930's featuring a crafty girl with a gift for repurposing her favorite daisy print.

When the family flour sack is emptied, Nancy Bess remakes it into a dress. But little girls grow as little girls do, and soon that dress is too small. Bit by bit, Nancy Bess fashions the material into new creations, until finally, all that is left of the flour sack are a few tattered pieces. Peering into the family scrap basket, Nancy Bess comes up with a plan to use the material once more, sewing something special to last for generations.

With carefully crafted and richly detailed illustrations, Nancy Bess Had a Dress will appeal to curious young historians and recycling enthusiasts, as well as like-minded teachers, librarians and caregivers.

When a small girl discovers there was once a lush forest on the great gray mountain, she is determined to plant as many new trees as she can. And even though the blazing sun shrivels the new shoots and fierce storms wash away all her hard work . . . she never, EVER gives up.

A powerful and hopeful story about how one girl's dream inspires a whole village and how, together, they can create something incredible.

A warm and funny eco-adventure with a clever message about looking after our blue planet, perfect for budding David Attenboroughs!

When Little Fish and her family encounter an odd new fish bobbing along on its own, they embark on an exciting journey to reunite it with its family.

But Odd Fish isn't the only creature who needs Little Fish's help. Turtle has a tummy ache and Octopus's tentacles are tangled. Clever readers will spot the one thing that links them all . . . plastic.

Maybe Odd Fish doesn't belong in the sea after all?

Eight million tonnes of plastic find their way into our oceans and rivers every year. That's equal to dumping one rubbish truck every minute into the sea!

This urgent problem is highlighted for the youngest readers with gentle humour and engaging characters, and offers practical ways we we can all make a real difference to protect our oceans and the creatures that live in them, and opens up key discussions about the environment and the topical issues highlighted in David Attenborough's Blue Planet.

There once was a town
Called Abberdoo-Rimey,
Where garbage was left
To grow rotten and slimy.

It never smelled fresh.
The air was all hazy.
But the people did nothing.
They got rather lazy.

But the townspeople are called to attention when a streak of green crash-lands in the town dump It's not a bird, nor a plane, but a new kind of superhero--Michael Recycle, who has a plan to save Abberdoo-Rimey. . . and the world

Fresh and funny, Michael Recycle will entertain young and old while gently imparting an important message about recycling and environmental awareness. A special section of Go Green Tips (from Michael Recycle himself) encourages all kids to become environmental superheroes.

When Mary Kate Murphy joins a science class focused on climate change, she becomes aware of lots of things she never noticed before about her small suburban town:

Kids waste tons of food at school without a second thought.

Parents leave their cars running in the pick-up lane all the time.

People buy lots of clothes they don't really need.

Some of her friends who live in the city and are bused to her school don't always feel included.

And the mayor isn't willing to listen to new ideas for fixing it all.

Mary Kate and her friends have big plans. And now is the time for the young people to lead and the leaders to follow--or get out of the way.

Will You Help Me?

Isidora and Julian, playing in the Chilean ocean, hear a plaintive cry -- a sea lion is tangled in an abandoned fishing net. They free their ocean friend then consider what to do with the net. With the help of a bird building its nest, they recycle it into something useful again, something better than new.

Presented in both English and Spanish, Better than New: A Recycle Tale/Mejor que Nuevo: Un cuenta de reciclaje is an inspiring story that presents children with a problem and shows how they find the solution, while teaching about the dangers of ocean pollution and encouraging a healthy relationship with the natural world. Issues covered: Plastic pollution in the ocean -- the harm it has on sea life Abandoned fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, as one particularly dangerous source of pollution They can be collected (instead of dumped) and made into other things - like fabric How this is done at a recycle facility - melting and restructuring into fabric, then made into clothing Kids will think it is super cool that they are wearing old fishing nets! Kids learn, You can help the planet with the choices you make in what you wear. You, too, can help save the fish and other sea life. Kids learn from other animals in nature Empathy toward sea life Taking action and having a positive outcome

Me ayudarás?

Isidora y Julián, jugando en el océano chileno, escuchan un llanto lastimero: un león marino está enredado en una red de pesca abandonada. Liberan a su amigo del océano y luego consideran qué hacer con la red. Con la ayuda de un pájaro que construye su nido, lo reciclan en algo útil nuevamente, algo mejor que nuevo. Presentado tanto en inglés como en español, Mejor que Nuevo: Un cuenta de reciclaje / Better than New: A Recycle Tale es una historia inspiradora que presenta a los niños un problema y muestra cómo encuentran la solución, mientras les enseñan sobre los peligros de la contaminación del océano y Fomentar una relación sana con el mundo natural.

Temas cubiertos: Contaminación plástica en el océano: el daño que causa a la vida marina Redes de pesca abandonadas, también conocidas como redes fantasma, como una fuente de contaminación particularmente peligrosa Se pueden recolectar (en lugar de tirar) y convertirlos en otras cosas, como tela. Cómo se hace esto en una instalación de reciclaje: fundir y reestructurar en tela, luego convertirlo en ropa Los niños pensarán que es genial que estén usando viejas redes de pesca! Los niños aprenden: Puedes ayudar al planeta con las decisiones que tomas en cuanto a lo que te pones. Tú también puedes ayudar a salvar a los peces y otras especies marinas. Los niños aprenden de otros animales de la naturaleza. Empatía hacia la vida marina Actuar y obtener un resultado positivo

A girl and her neighbor grow a community from their garden.

Grace thinks Larry's garden is one of the wonders of the world. In his tiny backyard next door to hers, Larry grows the most extraordinary vegetables. Grace loves helping him -- watering and weeding, planting and pruning, hoeing and harvesting. And whenever there's a problem -- like bugs burrowing into the carrots or slugs chewing the lettuce -- Grace and Larry solve it together. Grace soon learns that Larry has big plans for the vegetables in his special garden. And when that garden faces its biggest problem yet, Grace follows Larry's example to find the perfect solution.

Inspired by a real person, author Laura Alary has written a heartwarming story about how amazing things can grow when you tend your garden with kindness. In this case, Larry, a teacher, is helping to grow community. He has his students grow tomato plants that they then give away to their neighbors with personal notes. It offers a powerful lesson on the influence of generosity, while encouraging young children to become community activists in their own neighborhoods. This uplifting story fosters an appreciation for neighborhood and community at a time when that sentiment seems to be eroding. The book also contains an environmental message about harvesting your own vegetables and, with Kass Reich's colorful illustrations, works beautifully for a life science exploration of growth and changes in plants. There are character education connections to caring, cooperation, empathy, kindness, perseverance and teamwork.

A lively, charming celebration of sustainability and crafting - Nari knits a scarf from her sheep's fleece.

'On a gentle slope in rolling hills stood a little house of wood and stone. There were hens and bees and apple trees, bright flowers and soft green grass. And Nari had a little lamb of her very own.'

As the seasons change, Nari and her parents shear her sheep's fleece, and spin and dye the wool. Nari knits the yarn into a cosy yellow scarf.

But as Nari grows older, her beloved scarf becomes tattered. It's time to recycle the wool into compost, with a little help from the worms.

This charming picture book will help children understand where clothing comes from, and is a joyful celebration of traditional crafts and sustainable living. The luminous illustrations are full of character, texture and seasonal detail.