Book Review: A Planet Full of Plastic

by Eco Kids Planet June 26, 2019

Our Communications Manager, Emma Oldham, shares her review on Neal Layton's new book.

As a mother of 4, I’m in pure delight with this book! This is a book that will never leave our book stand.Sadly, Eco-anxiety weighsheavily on my heart and mind.I often find it challenging and sometimes overwhelming trying to fight my children against the war of plastic. Not only in what they want - from their plastic dolls to sweets wrapped in plastic, but to taking care of them. Nappies, wipes, family-sized packs of food - they’re all tainted with plastic.I’m confident my children think I’m a crazy plastic-obsessed mother, reporting on their every move when it comes to plastic consumption.

Thankfully, Neal Layton has won the battle for me! His new hardback novel,A Planet Full of Plastic’tells a great story. Stories are key to getting children to listen and to remember a moral from the pages. Neal’s book tells a story of how we lived a life before plastic. How itwas invented, why it went viral and what damage it is causing in today’s world.

Each page is easy to follow. Big images break up the text and throughout, Neil is talkingdirectly to your child about the issue. It’s like they’ve both having a conversation and all you need to do is listen in while turning the pages. Both my 2-year-old and 12-year-old learnt a great deal from this story.

Neal has fined tuned his words to communicate such an important message.In an array of photos, illustrations, diagrams and conversation, the facts and truths are there but Neal's images and language stop it from feeling too daunting.He’s also dedicated some pages on how children can help, including inspiring examples of what children around the world are doing. My girls are already excited about doing a family beach clean!

Hats off Neal! You know how to get children to listen! Please, can we have more from you on environmental topics? Deforestation? Climate change? Thank you!

Enter our competition!

Fancy winning a hardback copy of A Planet Full of Plastic? Head over to our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account and find our pinned post. In partnership with We're asking you to share one way you're going to reduce, reuse or eliminate plastics for #PlasticFreeJuly! Competition ends on Friday 5th July, 2019.

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