7th March Clean Up Australia Day

No birthdays today but as it is Clean Up Australia Day I thought I would look at two books with an environmental theme. Keep Out, a picture book by Noela Young, is very old, published in the 1970s, but tells the story of a group of children who find a yard filled with discarded building rubbish. They use it (recycle it) to make a playground for themselves to play in. While this would not happen to our 'cottonwool' kids who wouldn't be out playing in the streets, it provides a lovely solution to the problem of nowhere to play! It also allows for some lively discussion with children so dig it out if your school library is a long-established one.

The other book is new. The Tomorrow Book by Jackie French and Sue de Gennaro tells a lovely story of a prince planning the world he wants to live in. His world has solar power and many 'green' features. The book is printed on recycled paper reflecting its message.

And if you haven't these, there is always:

• 10 Things I Can Do To Help My World by Melanie Walsh

• George Saves the World By Lunchtime by Jo Readman & Ley Honor Roberts

• Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel

• Litterbug Doug by Ellie Bethel

• Rubbish and Recycling by Stephanie Turnbull (Usborne Beginners)