Review
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"In the 1980s in the cities of Gambia, a switch from using
baskets made of natural materials to non-biodegradable plastic
bags led to a problem: roadsides began to be choked by
ever-growing piles of plastic bags. Then the problem spread to
the villages. In Njau, Gambia, a young woman named Isatou Ceesay
became concerned; when she learned that these non-biodegradable
objects, dided after breakage and tears made them no longer
usable, were attracting disease-bearing insects and that domestic
animals often died after eating the bags, she decided to do
something about it. Author Paul has written a clear and sensitive
account of Ceesay and her fellow activists' ingenious solution to
the plastic bag problem (they wash them, cut the bags into
strips, and crochet the strips into small purses to sell in the
city). Zunon's collages, with their vivid colors, elegant
patterns, and varied textures--especially those from actual
plastic bags--provide a beautiful and authentic entry into the
story. An informative author's note, glossary, timeline, and
suggestions for further reading accompany the story. This
handsome presentation of grassroots environmental activism is
certain to inspire young readers." --The Horn Book Magazine
--Journal
"As Isatou Ceesay, a young woman in Njau, Gambia, drops and
breaks the basket of fruit she is carrying, she discovers an
abandoned bag made of a strange fabric―plastic. At first these
brightly colored bags seem convenient throughout the village, but
as they break, they are dided. As 1 becomes 2, then 10, then
100, their beauty turns into a growing pile of filth that
attracts dirty water, mosquitos, and a stench. When the problem
worsens as goats begin to eat the bags and die, Isatou and her
friends devise a clever plan that's initially met with ridicule.
They wash the bags, cut and roll them into plastic thread, and
crochet them into purses, all in secret. But when 1, then 2, then
10 women buy them, proud entrepreneur Isatou soon has enough
money to buy a new goat and relishes the returned beauty of her
village. Colorful textured and patterned collage artwork
illustrates this inspiring true story, which concludes with more
information about Isatou's grassroots initiative."―Booklist
--Journal
"Distressed by the problem of plastic-bag disposal, a Gambian
woman organizes her neighbors to turn t into treasure.When
Isatou Ceesay first discovered plastic bags in the Gambia in West
Africa, in the 1980s, they seemed wonderfully useful and sturdy.
But in her village, they soon became a nuisance, piling up in
ugly dump areas where mosquitoes bred. Goats ate them and died.
Her solution was to collect and clean used bags, cut them into
strips and crochet the strips into useful plastic purses. These
were sold at local markets and eventually internationally. Paul,
who first went to the Gambia as a volunteer and has returned in
other roles, tells this story in a straightforward fashion,
deftly including words from the Wolof language and including
details about Ceesay's village life. A , author's note,
glossary, timeline and excellent suggestions for further reading
set this example of a woman who made a difference in a larger
context. Fittingly, the collage illustrations make use of
colorful papers and plastic bags. These reveal the labor involved
and show the women's joy in the results of their work. Though
Isatou Ceesay's country may be unfamiliar to young readers,
they've probably done some handicraft recycling of their own. The
easy connection makes this a welcome addition to the small shelf
of examples of ingenuity in developing nations." --Kirkus Reviews
--Journal
"One woman's efforts to rid her Gambian village of t sparks a
recycling movement in this uplifting tale inspired by true
events. As a girl, Inatou admired the colors and myriad uses of
the plastic bags that began to proliferate in her community. But
years later, the same plastic bags, festering in t heaps or
floating through the air, have become a menace to humans and
animals. Compelled to make her home beautiful, Inatou gathers the
bags, cleans them, and crochets them into purses. She teaches
other women to do the same, and an ecologically-minded enterprise
is born. Notes of hope, determination, and empowerment suffuse
Paul's story, which the author explains was informed by her
volunteer work as a teacher in the Gambia. Incorporating real
plastic bags into her mixed-media collages, Zunon, who grew up in
West Africa, juxtaposes the brown, dusty landscape against
splashes of color and vibrant printed dresses and head coverings
worn by the village women. A glossary and list of suggested
reading are included." --Publishers Weekly
--Journal
"The simple format of this picture book belies the strength of
its content, a story lovingly supported by charming collage
illustrations. As a girl, Ceesay realized that the goats on which
her village relied were dying because they were eating plastic
bags. She also saw that people were tossing the used bags on the
ground just as they had always thrown away their baskets when no
longer useful--except the plastic bags, unlike the baskets,
weren't biodegradable. So Ceesay figured out how to use crochet,
a skill with which the villagers were already familiar, to make
purses out of the plastic bags. Simple but lyrical text conveys
this beautiful, thought-provoking tale of ecological awareness
and recycling ('The basket tips. One fruit tumbles. Then two.
Then ten.'). An inspiring account." --starred, School Library
Journal
--Journal
About the Author
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Miranda Paul is the award-winning author of more than a dozen
books for children, including One Plastic Bag and Water Is Water,
both Junior Library Guild selections. Miranda is a founding
member of We Need Diverse Books and serves as its mentorship
chair. Learn more at mirandapaul.com.