"Day after day, the bag she dropped is still there. Introduction
I'm back today with the second book in my series reviewing children's books that take place in African countries. Today I chose One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of The Gambia (affiliate link) written by Miranda Paul with illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon. This is another true story that focuses on a remarkable woman who started a movement to recycle and reuse the many plastic bags she found polluting her community. Like the first book in my series Emmanuel's Dream, it showcases how one incredible person can make a difference.
Book Review
This is the true story of Isatou Ceesay, who found a group of women and girls to clean up their neighborhoods by creatively upcycling plastic bags. Although the story is uplifting as whole, the effects of plastic pollution on the animals and people of The Gambia is discussed, which may bother some sensitive readers. My daughter is relatively sensitive, so this part upset her a great deal. Because of her concern, learning how plastic waste hurts animals has motivated her to make sure she cleans up any plastic waste, so this story had a positive effect on her. Miranda Paul’s writing is lovely, and we adored the repetition of “one [person]. Then two. Then ten.” to highlight how change spreads slowly through one person’s efforts. For young children and overwhelmed adults, this is an essential message of hope; yes, the task may be enormous, but we can all contribute and inspire others.
Additionally Elizabeth Zunon’s illustrations bring to life the beauty of Gambian women. The images are richly textured and colorful; it almost seems possible to touch the recycled purses and feel the crocheting. On a personal note, I love that she shows mothers carrying their children in wraps. One of my favorite features is the glossary and pronunciation guide of Wolof words used throughout the story. These words are sprinkled throughout the story, giving a richness to the women’s language that wouldn’t be possible without them. I also appreciate the content in the Author’s Note for providing information about why Miranda Paul chose to write this story as well as the Timeline describing events in greater detail. For older children, these features offer additional context for the story and provide inspiration for them. For children who want to learn more about Isatou Ceesay and the other recycling women and girls in The Gambia, Climate Heroes have also created a short documentary about their work. The Gambia
The Gambia is a small country in western Africa with about 2,000,000 people; the shape of the country follows the shape of its namesake river and is bordered on all sides by Senegal except for a small part touching the Atlantic Ocean (Britannica). The official language is English, but there are many other languages spoken, including Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Serer, Jola, Manjago, Karoninka, Sarahule and Aku. The capital city is Banjul, which houses many of the people living there. The economy is dependent on tourism and peanut exports, and as the second country to build a sustainable tourism board, The Gambia has been intentionally promoting eco-tourism and sustainable development (Gambia Tourism Board).
On February 18, 1965, The Gambia gained independence from British colonizers. It has been a stable democracy since Independence. About the Authors
Miranda Paul (author website) traveled to The Gambia as a volunteer teacher, where one of her friends told her about the difference Isatou Ceesay and the other recycling women were making in their communities. After meeting Isatou Ceesay and interviewing many of the women and girls involved, Paul was inspired to write this book. Paul has always loved recycling, repurposing old items, and going on adventures, so many of her titles feature these themes. Her other titles include the following (affiliate links):
Although illustrator Elizabeth Zunon (illustrator website) was born in Albany, New York, she grew up in West Africa in Cote d’Ivoire with her mother and brother. She loved creating art, even as a child, and now she has continued to paint, draw, and make jewelry. Many of these creations are inspired by her childhood in West Africa, and it’s easy to see how the lush colors of West Africa were captured beautifully in One Plastic Bag. Other books she has illustrated include the following (book title are affiliate links; book authors point to their websites):
Extensions: "Plarn" Weaving
In keeping with the spirit of One Plastic Bag, I decided to focus on upcycling some of the plastic bags and cardboard we have collected in our home. My daughter isn’t quite old enough to learn how to crochet, so I thought that weaving would be a bit simpler for her and other younger children. I was surprised by how excited she was to help me organize the bags for cutting and then actually cutting the bags into plarn. I used this tutorial for cutting up the bags. I used the spiral cutting method, but this tutorial provides two ways to cut. Although I already know how to make a “loom” from recycled cardboard, I like this tutorial for showing a method that is similar to how I create mine.
Materials
Instructions
More Extensions
The official website for One Plastic Bag includes other activities that may be interesting for older kids as well. There are worksheets, activities, and more information about Isatou Ceesay. There is also an informational brochure about actually visiting the recycling center.
The organization that Isatou Ceesay created was renamed the Women Initiative The Gambia in 2014 and became an official non-profit. Their website contains more information as well as many photos of the women who are featured in this book. I highly recommend checking out this site to view the photographs. African Picture Book Series
Here are the additional books in this series.
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Author
I'm Heidi, the lead teacher for Stone Bridge Academy. We are a homeschool serving one fabulous student. This blog occasionally uses affiliate links, which means that we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only link to products or services that we use and love in my family. These commissions allow me to continue providing helpful content here. Thank you for your support.
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