Review
'Upcycling is reusing unwanted materials to make something new or valuable. These books include details, directions, and tips for using plastic bottles, cardboard, egg cartons, old art supplies, glass jars, and trash to make fun, upcycled crafts. Step by step directions and bright photos are included that explain the process of how to make the upcycled craft. The crafts are introduced with two paragraphs which include background material, historical facts, statistics, and highlighted vocabulary words. Some of the crafts are easy to make, while others would require adult assistance. For example, the safari animals in Cardboard Crafts are very cute and easy to make. The bubble paint in Old Art Supplies Crafts would be an awesome craft for kids, but would be messy and require adult supervision. The jump rope craft sounds difficult, and would require an adult to drill small holes through the tops of old pens or marker caps. The snowglobes and reindeer mugs in Glass Jar Crafts would be an excellent craft for students to make during the holidays. The rainstick in Trash to Treasure Crafts and maracas from Plastic Bottles Crafts would make an excellent way to teach about musical instruments. The dragon puppets from Egg Carton Crafts could create a fun lesson about culture and children could utilize them in a drama. Readers could also build upon the basic craft ideas to create original and imaginative crafts. These titles could be incorporated with many different subjects to enhance a lesson and allow the children to expand their learning, showcase their creativity, and experiment with new materials.', Alana Jara, District Librarian, Clear Lake Community School District,'The Easy Upcycled Crafts series (6 titles) showcases nifty, thrifty “trash to treasure” transformations. In this volume, empty glass food jars are repurposed into eight fun and functional items, including a coin bank, photo holder, planter, and vase. Easy-to understand instructions call for a minimal list of household supplies, like yarn, cotton balls, and dried pasta. Crystal-clear photographs dynamically chart the few steps needed to reach the final creation. Colorful “Top Tip" sidebars (resembling notes on scrap pieces of cardboard duct-taped to the page) encourage personalization and experimentation. Short paragraphs introduce each project with conversational tidbits, such as a description of the world's largest snow-globe collection or the definition of washi tape. A glossary, index, and suggested print and online resources are also included. An attractive, appealing resource for eco-conscious crafters and STEAM makers.', Linda Ludke, Booklist
