MORNINGTON MOTHER OF 3 Jane Ting uses literature to change young people’s attitudes towards plastics and the environment.
Through her picture book Soft Plastics to Things Fantastic: Zac’s Happy Planet, Tin hopes to help children understand the environmental benefits of recycling plastics and the impact of their recycling efforts.
“I have young children and I understand how important it is for them to know that they can make a difference to protect the planet,” she said.
Ting said her book deals with how to responsibly recycle soft plastics.
“In the first year of COVID, I saw David Attenborough. It was an epiphany moment. I wanted to change the way people thought about what they were doing to the planet.” she said.
“I really wanted to spread awareness and educate my children. Sadly, from what I’ve been told at school, I know that not many households recycle soft plastics.”
Tin’s book, the first in a series of picture books about Zach and his family and friends, was released on October 18 and is already a bestseller in 32 Amazon categories.
“It’s exciting that this is going so well. It shows that there are people out there who want to make a difference and it’s so easy,” Ting said.
The book centers on Zack and his brother who arrive at their grandparents’ house just in time to unpack their shopping. As they clean up the perishables and sort out the recycling, Zach notices that his grandparents are throwing soft plastic into the garbage. He then teaches about recycling and what can be made from plastic, giving a fresh look at the impact everyone can have on sustainability in the process.
Ting said that although the subject matter was serious, the way the book conveys its message is to get to know the character Zack and have fun through reading.
“I wanted to make the lessons of the book fun and easy to absorb…it’s so easy for everyone to take their own soft plastic back to the supermarket and put it in the container in front.
“This book is a colorful story about how whole families can come together to change small habits that help protect the future of our planet.”
For more information, visit zacshappyplanet.com.
First published in Mornington News on November 1, 2022
