I’m happy to have read a digital copy on Edelweiss.plus of a soon-to-be-released Perfect Picture Book and share it with you today.
Title: When Old Becomes New: Turning Junk into Joy
Written By: Jessica Stremer
Illustrated By: Nicole Wong
Publisher/Date: Holiday House/October 2026
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: nonfiction, recycling, green living, crafts, hobbies, environmental conservation
Opening:
Worn. Tired. Broken.
Tossed aside. Replaced.
Until…
Old becomes new…
…and friendships form.
Brief Synopsis: An exploration of several ways we can repurpose many items.
Links to Resources:
· Check out the Back Matter, which contains ideas to bring “new purpose to old items,” including fabric, cardboard, plastic, rubber, and metal, plus a bibliography;
· Grab a friend or sibling and build a fort or a cozy home for a beloved furry friend from an empty cardboard box or boxes;
· Check out these 101+ recycled kids’ craft ideas.
Why I Like this Book:
As a long-time recycler and upcycler, I was thrilled to discover When Old Becomes New and see how Stremer and Wong show little listeners how we can repurpose “junk” into useful items. Examples include some obvious uses, like turning one large cardboard box into a playhouse and another into a cat house, and some more unusual ones, like repurposing worn-out wind turbine blades as playground equipment. Even long-time recyclers will learn new ways to repurpose used items, and I know little listeners will, too.
Starting in what looks to be a junk yard or the refuse area of a multifamily dwelling, a pair of unnamed girls, a cat, and an adult collect a few items. In wordless spreads, we see how fabric is made and how the girls braid worn fabric into friendship bracelets. We also learn that empty plastic bottles filled with more recycled plastic can be used to build structures, including schools. Plus much, much more.
Because of the low word count, little listeners can follow along easily and see several instances of repurposing in the detailed illustrations. Shipping containers becoming homes? Yes, please! Notice how colorfully painted tires line the driveway and act as planters.
Whether read in a classroom or at home, When Old Becomes New is sure to inspire little listeners and adult readers to reuse and repurpose “junk” into useful new items.
A Note about Craft:
When Old Becomes New is part of a collection of Books for a Better Earth which are “designed to inspire young people to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on.”
While the text is pure nonfiction, with no characters mentioned, Wong has created two girls and a cat who appear on many spreads, thereby helping little listeners see youngsters like themselves making our world better.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 