It is rare to find a children’s book with such an important message about our environment, that is set outside the US, and is illustrated so beautifully! One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and The Recycling Women of The Gambia is the inspirational, true story about littered plastic bags and the woman who stood up and transformed her community. It is the perfect book to introduce environmental topics to kids like recycling, and also teaches that even one person can make a difference. The story begins on a walk in Njau, Gambia.
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A young woman, Isatou discovers that plastic bags are being used more and more in her village- and being tossed aside, littering the ground.
One plastic bag becomes two.
Then ten.
Then a hundred.
Plastic isn’t beautiful anymore, she thinks.
As the ugliness grows and the litter accumulates, one day Isatou finds a goat is choking on a plastic bag it has ingested. “She knows too much to ignore it now.”
One Plastic Bag is the story of how one woman cleans up her community, inspiring friends and neighbors to help create plastic, recycled purses, and reduce the trash in her village.
When she passes by the pile of rubbish, she smiles because it is smaller now. She tells herself, one day it will be gone and my home will be beautiful.
After reading this true story, we flipped to the back and read the real timeline of Isatou’s achievements, and even saw a picture of her! There’s a Wolof (language of the Gambia) glossary, and an author’s note that explains the story of recycling in Njau, and the women’s contributions. This book is a must-have for schools and homes that would like their kids to be aware of global perspectives on issues such as trash ad developing nations.
Recycled Crafts Inspired by One Plastic Bag
Plastic bag and duct tape sit-upon
How to Make Plastic Yarn (Plarn)
Multicultural Children’s Book Day
MISSION: To raise awareness for children’s books that celebrate diversity, and to get more of these books into classrooms and libraries.
CREATORS: The co-creators of this unique event are Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom and Valarie Budayr from Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press. Learn more about these phenomenal ladies here.
SPONSORS: The MCCBD Team wishes to thank all its Medallion Level Sponsors listed below:
Platinum: Wisdom Tales Press * StoryQuest Books * Lil Libros
Gold: Author Tori Nighthawk * Candlewick Press* Bharat Babies
Silver: Lee and Low Books * Chronicle Books * Capstone Young Readers * Tuttle Publishing * NY Media Works LLC/KidLit TV
Bronze: Pomelo Books * Author Jacqueline Woodson * Papa Lemon Books * Goosebottom Books * Author Gleeson Rebello * ShoutMouse Press * Author Mahvash Shahegh * China Institute.org * Live Oak Media
CO-HOSTS: MCCBD would like to thank all its amazing Co-Hosts listed below:
All Done Monkey * Crafty Moms Share * Educators Spin on it * Growing Book by Book * Imagination Soup I’m Not the Nanny * InCultural Parent * Kid World Citizen * Mama Smiles * Multicultural Kid Blogs * Spanish Playground
BOOK LISTS & RESOURCES: The MCCBD Diversity Book Lists and Resources for Educators and Parents are available by clicking here.
Happy Multicultural Children’s Book Day Becky !!!! Thank you for co-hosting and celebrating with us. This is one of my favorite books. Love your activities to go with it. Enjoy !!
Thank you so much for your support of Multicultural Children’s Book Day Becky! I love this book and how the women stuck with their project as it wasn’t an easy go at first! So many great life lessons in one picture book!
I enjoyed this book. What an inspirational story!