Holiday Crafts

Gr 3–6—Each of these titles begins by supplying meaningful statistics regarding the staggering amount of waste that occurs on a regular basis in the United States. The information is presented in a manner that should impress and be understood by the target audience. For example, Holiday informs readers that there are enough Christmas cards sold each year to "fill a building that is 10 stories tall and covers as much ground as a football field," and Fabrics explains that it takes around 950 gallons of water just to grow the cotton and manufacture the fabric for a single pair of denim jeans. More green information is interwoven throughout the text. Each volume provides directions for six crafts that can be made by recycling household trash, such as a bird feeder in Gifts that is made from a juice carton, and a feeder in Nature that is a bottle project. Some of the activities can be found in other craft books. The precise directions are accompanied by sharp, clear, color photos, and all necessary items should be readily available in any household. These environment-friendly titles would make worthwhile additions to most collections.