Just in time for Earth Day, we’ve found a great new book of earth-friendly craft projects for kids. The Scrap Kins Build-It Book features 12 different craft projects made from recyclable materials. From a milk carton pirate ship to a window garden made from water bottles, the crafts involve typical items such as toilet paper tubes, cereal box and styrofoam trays that would end up in the trash or recycling bin. The only additional items required are basic craft supplies–scissors, glue, markers and the like.

The Scrap Kins themselves are the creation of author/illustrator Brian Yanish. They are a series of little (but friendly) monsters, who live in a recycling center. The Scrap Kins introduce the craft projects and are featured in comics and puzzles throughout the book.

The included projects vary in age and ability. My own 8 year old was able to make nearly all of them on her own, with only a bit of assistance with cutting materials to size. My 5 year old needed a bit more help with the assembly, but loved creating his own designs. Both of them used the book as a jumping off point for more recycled art, we have many new creations using boxes and tubes, thanks to the ideas in Scrap Kins.

The Scrap Kins Build-It Book is available on Amazon for $9.99.  More information, including their Scrap Collector app for the iPhone, is available on www.thescrapkins.com.

Momtrends was not paid for this post. We did get a review book.