Aluminium ¦ Paper

The principles of recycling waste to conserve energy and material are irreproachable, but the streets are still full of empty drink-cans, and that's because the practice is another matter; its implementation is, as often as not, in the hands of the community's mature decision-makers rather than those of all the little wasters. Any scheme that relies for its success on voluntary participation must be at once easy and obvious in its observance, so it's good to welcome this new series which gives young children easy things to do for obviously advantageous reasons.

Recycling aluminium saves lots of electricity, pollution and rainforest, and all these points are simply made before can-cash incentives are mentioned, and how refreshing it is to see that Paper starts with the most basic advice of all - 'use both sides'. This advice is easy to take - I drafted this review on the blank back of the publisher's puff.

A nice mix of well illustrated information and provocative questions makes these two excellent for sharing with five-year-olds and will provide a good start for less able older children. The publishers promise us Glass and Plastic soon, so pick those up too.