Earth-Friendly Crafts: Clever Ways to Reuse Everyday Items »

Kathy Ross is the author of more than 50 craft books that have sold well over 1.5 million copies. A former pre-school teacher and curriculum developer, she consults for Highlights magazine, Highsmith, and Nickelodeon on early elementary school matter. Céline Malépart has been an illustrator since 1987. She has produced illustrations for children's books, as well as editorial illustrations for magazines in Canada, the United States, and France. For the last five years, she has also explored the world of fine art. She lives in Montreal in a three-story crooked blue house with her family, her gizmos, her orange kitchen, her striped walls, her extended collection of winter hats, her fiberglass mannequins, her messy studio, and her three cats who have a great gift for conversation.

What do you do with old toys, clothes, and other stuff? Instead of throwing them away, get creative and see what crafts you can make! This book shows you how to make crafts out of old playing cards, marker caps, toy cars, neckties, hairbrushes, and more. Color photos of the finished crafts and step-by-step illustrations make these crafts a snap. Along with 21 crafts, you'll find information about recycling and tips for what you can do to help the planet. So find new uses for your old stuff and get crafting!

Children's Literature

Everyday items such as old toys, games, puzzle pieces, balloons, greeting cards, and playing cards can be used to create clips, picture boards, magnets, frames, and jewelry. Ross includes twenty-one different crafts that will appeal to younger crafters. Using a folding game board, crafters can create a practical art folder to keep artwork protected and flat. A pair of stretchy gloves with bits of foam and pipe cleaners turn into an octopus puppet, while a tuna fish can and old marker caps become a pencil holder. An old greeting card is transformed in to a new one using fabric or wrapping paper and a fashion doll outfit, while a cereal box can be transformed into a chain of links or a collage. Each project includes a photo of the completed project and step-by-step directions and illustrations. A table of contents, page of web and book resources, and environmental tips and statistics are other key features of this book. Additional tips or recycling facts accompany each craft. This is a great supplement to any science or art classroom or elementary library. Reviewer: Barbara Wheatley