Scrapkins Junk re-thunk

In this combination activity, craft, and comic book, readers are welcomed to Scrap City and introduced to a tribe of monsters: the ScrapKins, who love to scrap-vent with recyclable materials. Each ScrapKin has their own personality and specialty: Itcher, for example, is attracted to all things smelly, while Stacker loves to organize and keeps the contents of Scrap City meticulously cataloged. Comics and puzzles pertaining to each monster are scattered throughout the book, though the main focus is crafting. The projects are of varying levels of complexity and can be created using recyclables and materials found at home, and the fictional narrative is an interesting way to keep children invested in the concept of recycling. Children are encouraged to think of ways that they can create with junk and are invited to become ScrapKins themselves by visiting an affiliated website. Some puzzles and games invite writing in the book, which could be problematic in a library environment, but the activities will interest crafters and seekers of rainy-day projects.--Dean, Kara Copyright 2016 Booklist

One man's trash is another man's... monster truck. Illustrator Yanish urges kids to reuse items that might normally end up in the recycling or trash bin as he introduces six monsters called ScrapKins and the items they create (aka "scrap-vent") in their junkyard home. Each ScrapKin presents several projects, such as a milk jug "Knight's Helmet," a parachuting monster made from a toilet paper tube and plastic bag, and a cereal box treasure chest. Between projects, Yanish includes comics, crossword puzzles, and humorous profiles of the ScrapKins. While the projects, which rely on similar items, begin to feel a bit repetitive, Yanish's enthusiasm and the book's eye-catching format offer abundant crafty inspiration. Ages 6-10. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.