One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia Hardcover – Picture Book, February 1, 2015

The children in my classroom always enjoy a story about real people. Read this to my group a couple of times as we celebrated Earth week. It held their attention and contributed to wonderful discussions on what each could do to help save the Earth.

Based on a real story I loved it the kids loved it in my class

Unbelievable story with true heart and meaning. This is a true work of art. My 6-year-old truly enjoyed this inspiring story.

This gorgeously illustrated true story shows how Isatou Ceesay and other women in her small village in the Gambia solved a big problem: discarded plastic bags, which were killing livestock and providing breeding places for disease-carrying mosquitos. She and her friends cleaned the bags, cut them into long continuous strips (you can find directions on how to do this online--many places call it "plarn" for "plastic yarn"), and crocheted them into change purses, which now they sell, both locally and abroad. Author Miranda Paul has spent many years teaching in the Gambia and is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement, and illustrator Elizabeth Zunon has also illustrated The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, the story of William Kamkwamba, who taught himself to build a windmill to provide his village with electricity.It's a great read--highly, highly recommended.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: One Plastic Bag has so many hooks. First, Miranda incorporates Gambian culture and language into the text, immersing the reader into Isatou’s world. Second, the book has great read aloud-ability. Miranda uses a repeating refrain: “first one, then two, then ten,” which makes kids want to chant along. Finally, who can resist a story about one person seeing an insurmountable problem and taking a small step that leads to a giant change?RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:One Plastic Bag‘s Web site is packed with activities and information, including a PowerPoint about The Gambia and instructions for turning plastic bags into purses.

I homeschool a 4th grade girl. I've previewed the book and loved it. Especially love the timeline, pronounciation guide to the words written in the local language, and extra resource list. PERFECT for my 4th grader. It's say it would suit any elementary school child all the way through Junior High.

I love how this story has so many powerful messages. It starts with one plastic bag that no one is concerned about and evolves into a story about taking care of our planet, women being problem solvers, and that we are able to do far more when we band together than we ever are able to do on our own.

Love, love, love this book! Isatou is truly an amazing woman and her story needed to be told. Thanks to author Miranda Paul for bringing Isatou Ceesay's story to the hands of children across America!I've found that the story is engaging for a wide range of students (1-8 so far, have not read it to high schoolers yet) and the illustrations are bright and colorful for little ones as well. A simply told story of how one person can stand up and make big change if they have the determination. A great addition to any school or classroom library!