Attwood launches educational waste books at Whiterock Library
18 January 2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today joined a storytelling group in Whiterock library to launch the “Rubbish Monster” book series.
The Minister, who today enjoyed a storytelling session with a group of 4-8 year olds, took the opportunity to join the group to listen to the all-new series of “Rubbish Monster” books.
Funded by the DOE’s Rethink Waste campaign, the series of three books, which are suitable for nursery school through to key stage three age children, were written and published in partnership with the Tidy NI Eco-Schools Programme. The objective of the books is to educate young children about waste and to promote the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The book is written in accordance with the school curriculum.
Alex Attwood said:“I am delighted to join this storytelling group today and show the children these fantastic books. Although residents in the North have made a lot of progress in terms of reducing waste and increasing recycling, we still need to keep improving in order to not only meet European targets but to ensure we become more resource efficient as a society.
“By educating children at this young age, I hope that as they grow older this waste prevention mind frame will result in waste reducing habits becoming naturally engrained in their daily lives. Every nursery, preparatory, special and primary school in the North will receive a set of books and I will be reading them to my children, aged 2 and 5.”
Ian Humphreys from TIDY Northern Ireland added: “We are delighted to attend the launch of these educational and fun series of books for children of nursery school through to primary school age.
“As these books are written with foundation through to key stage three age children in mind, we hope to educate children in practical ways that they can make a difference, and encourage friends and family to do the same. The books are a valuable curriculum-linked resource for schools studying the waste topic as part of their Eco-Schools Programme and will allow pupils to learn in an enjoyable and engaging way.”
Irene Knox, Chief Executive of Libraries NI, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Environment Minister to one of our regular children’s storytelling sessions, in the recently refurbished Whiterock Library, to launch this series of books which focus on the “Rubbish Monster” character.
“Libraries NI has demonstrated a commitment to making libraries the centre of their local communities and by working with the DOE, we are delighted that these books are now available in all our libraries across Northern Ireland for children to borrow.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister for ensuring that these books were written and delivered to our libraries for children to enjoy – we know they will be a popular edition to our children’s section. To find out more about free events and services being held in libraries, go to http://www.librariesni.org.uk.”
