New Life for Old Books

Children's books seem to have a shorter life span than most other books. Most likely because of the little ones that handle them every day. But a well worn book is a sign of love and simply because a book has reached the end of it's life, doesn't mean you have to completely trash it. There are a few ways you can recycle old books and today I'll show you one of them...

Simply because the book is old and falling apart doesn't mean the story can't live on. Help your child cut out the main characters of the book and turn them into puppets. Then, use the puppets to retell your child's favorite story.

PS
My puppets were inspired by Handmade Charlotte's Safari Puppets


materials:
colorful paper (cardstock works best)
an old book
scissors
glue stick
straws or chop sticks
tape

get to work:
1. Begin by helping your child cut out the characters in an old book that's falling apart (you might want to explain that it's only ok to cut up a book when it's so old you're about to toss it).

2. Show the child how to glue the character onto a piece of colored paper.

3. Help them cut out the character again, but this time leave a little space so that the character is outlined by the paper.

4. Tape a straw or chop stick to the back of the character.

5. Repeat with other characters in the book and then retell the story! Or even better, create new stories!