Comments on: Where Should Fake Plastic Fish Live?

By: Jen Mueller

Jen Mueller — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:31:39 +0000

Great feature. My daughter isn’t really old enough yet to understand recycling or issues surrounding plastics, though, like many urban toddlers, she loves to pick up trash and throw it away. The ideas in the book might make for great gifts for my nephew and nieces though, and we’ll have to resort to the same technique of raiding the neighbors recycling bins.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:08:09 +0000

The book looks great. I’ve been a recycler for years and have now moved to reducer and come to your blog for inspiration – which I always find in abundance – thanks. I often participate in science fairs and this would be a great resource for the kids.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:56:00 +0000

I work as a child advocate at a domestic violence shelter, and every summer we do a unit on “going green” that includes touring the local landfills and recycling center, education and fun activities to get the kids excited about activism. I am of the opinion that empowering kids to try to change their world is particularly important for children who may have spent their entire lives thinking that they can do nothing to change their circumstances…

Anyway, I’d love to use this book for our activities this year! Our local library does not have a copy, it would be great to be able to use the book and then donate it so others in my community can do the same.

Either way, thanks for all you do, Beth!

By: Patty

Patty — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:26:28 +0000

I think this is pretty and fun but I also feel a bit critical. Artists are often using recycled materials in their work. The materials he is using are already in recycle bins (which I know is downcycling) but it seems like the upcycling (into art) would be more productive if he found the materials in the trash or as litter. I feel bad for this artists health as he is melting the plastic and dealing with the perfumes in high concentrations. Sadly artists do this a lot with paint fumes and such)
If you are going to make items for your home (especially outside) make sure animals won’t get trapped in them!!!

By: Are blog giveaways a good idea? | Simple Life in France

Are blog giveaways a good idea? | Simple Life in France — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 05:16:58 +0000

[...] my own general rule of not joining in giveaways. I’ve offered to pay shipping expenses at Fake Plastic Fish for a book she’s giving away on how to turn old plastic into art projects–it’s a [...]

By: amanda k.

amanda k. — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:26:39 +0000

What beautiful art made of such a crummy material. Thank you for sharing this work! And PLEASE enter me in the giveaway — I don’t think there is any better way of teaching my students (grades k-3) about plastic waste than by making toys out of trash.

By: Carla

Carla — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:06:48 +0000

I would find this book useful for working with my kids (4 and almost 2) to learn about plastic. I haven’t yet found a good way to teach about plastic specifically, but we do talk about (well, I talk) about waste in general. I talk about how we use the minimum of resources, that resources are limited, that it is better to reuse.

By: kanmuri

kanmuri — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:37:04 +0000

When I worked in Japan as a teacher, I tried to discuss the plastic usage issue with my students as much as possible. Japanese people have a tradition of over packing everything and I often asked the kids about the different ways they could reuse many of the plastic containers and wrappers.
.-= kanmuri´s last blog ..Dealing with it =-.

By: akiko kanna jones

akiko kanna jones — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:16:09 +0000

Oh, I must have this book! I always think about making something out of plastic trash bfore I recycle it.
That is why I came up with my idea of “Dancing with Plastic Trash Costumes”.
It really works and many local environmental organizations love it! In fact, we are dancng for two Earth Day events in Los Angeles this month.
Approaching kids and parents with a fun surprise while giving our messages is effective. – Danc 4 Oceans
.-= akiko kanna jones´s last blog ..Movie "On deadly Ground" =-.

By: Billie

Billie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:31:07 +0000

I have a little story about my step-son and toys in cereal.

One day, we were grocery shopping together. He is looking at all the cereal boxes and their giveaways (plastic of course). He finally finds the perfect giveaway that he wants and asks if we can buy the cereal. I told him I would be more than happy to purchase the cereal for him but he wouldn’t be getting his favourite cereal until he finished this box of cereal. He put it back on the shelf.

I tried to explain to him that the cereal makers use the toys to trick him into buying cereal he wouldn’t normally buy. I don’t think he understood what I was trying to say but he has never brought cereal into the house for its toy again.

And yes, I know that cereal wrapping has plastic in it but only one of us cares about plastic and the other parent demands their right to purchase whatever plastic they want. I only control the plastic that I consume since I can really only control me.

I think the book is very interesting and I would love to win it.
.-= Billie´s last blog ..Enough is enough =-.