Teens Go Green! Tips, Techniques, Tools, and Themes for YA Programming

Colston provides creative inspiration and practical resources for library professionals. The author, an art professor, has been a library art performer for more than 20 years. In the first section, she covers general tips and advice on programming for teens, what it means to go green, and how to check the safety and eco-friendliness of commonly used art materials such as paints and adhesives. Most of the book consists of plans for actual projects that include estimated costs, suggested age level, required materials, programming ideas, and lists of resources for professionals and teens. Easy-to-follow instructions are accompanied by illustrations of the activity in process and in completed form. Make-and-take and group projects are featured. Most of the 33 suggestions can be done in an hour or less, while some are all-night or span multiple programs. The simple instructions occasionally need some clarification such as a funnel not listed as required materials or a missing step that connects a papier-mâché head to a doll's body. Photographs and illustrations appear on a separate page from the instructions. Unfortunately, the images are of uneven quality, blurry, poor contrast, or simply decorative clip art. Still, with good bibliographic and online resources to complement the variety of projects, this title is a handy tool for librarians seeking programming ideas with eco-friendly themes.—June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA