Green Teens: Raising the Next Eco-Chic Generation

Do you ever think about the fact that we are now raising the first green generation? Our kids are being brought up in a world that was different than the one we were brought up in. We need to teach them how to live a greener life than we were taught to live. It is a good thing that there are some excellent guides to help us out.

The Green Teen: The Eco-Friendly Teen's Guide to Saving the Planet

Jenn Savedge's book is packed with tips that teens can easily do to green up the world that they inhabit. Thee are also a few more challenging actions (like starting a school recycling program) for those ready to take their environmentalism up a notch. Jenn has done an impressive job creating a straightforwrd, well-organized reference book full of tips, resources and advice for eco-friendy teens. She not only explains the how's of going green; she explains the why's too, and helps teens to understand the importance of the part they can play in caring for the planet. - Robin Shreeves, Mother Nature Network

Generation Green: The Ultimate Teen Guide to Living an Eco-Friendly Life

A thorough yet accessible manual on green living. Sivertsen and her teenage son draw on scientific findings, personal experience, and interviews with celebrities and teens to provide readers with environmentally responsible lifestyle alternatives, from organic cosmetics to natural kitchen cleaners to green career opportunities. The "Five Rs"—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink, Refuse—provide a framework for embracing an alternative to rampant consumerism. The book's incisive voice, using teen idioms, is accessible to those who have little or no background in environmental issues, yet the standards within will likewise engage readers already committed to being green. Though there is no index and the many pop-culture references may hinder the work's longevity, this volume will appeal to the target audience. Chapters are broken into frequent, user-friendly subheadings, and special interviews—many with energetic, activist teens—are clearly designated; decorative illustrations complement the text. Listings of green Web sites, charities, and organizations are included. In addition to being a handy, information-rich companion to Al Gore's  An Inconvenient Truth (Viking, 2007) and Laurie David and Cambria Gordon's Down-to-Earth Guide To Global Warming(Scholastic, 2007), Generation Green is also unique, for its central focus is not to explain the science behind current environmental challenges, but rather to reveal how young people can work to solve those problems in their everyday lives.—Farida S. Dowler, Mercer Island Library, WA

MySpace/OurPlanet: Change Is Possible

Geared toward teens, this collection of MySpace postings focuses on what readers can do in their daily activities, social lives, and communities to help the environment. Each chapter breaks down the setting into its individual components. For example, the chapter "Your Home, Your Planet" gives environmental hints for making one's room, bathroom, kitchen, and yard more eco-friendly. The modern layout, with green foliage on each page and purple and green font, as well as the slang, will be engaging for young adults. Highlighted boxes, located in most chapters, give facts about topics such as recycling, carbon dioxide, alternative fuels, alternative spring break, and television. The recycling box starts with, "Lose virginity: recycle" and contains facts about virgin materials saved by recycling newspapers, aluminum cans, glass containers, and plastic soda bottles. Myths and facts about the environment are explored. This book gives excellent suggestions for helping to help the environment, and is sure to encourage teen activism.—Teresa Moffett, Fulton High School, Knoxville, TN

English Retreads-Recycling Rubber Tires

One of the most clever companies I have come across lately in my research for eco-chic green products is English Retreads.

In their own words:

"At English Retreads, we turn recycling into a bold fashion statement with our unique handbags and accessories. Designed specifically for conscientious consumers and savvy fashionistas, each one-of-a-kind English Retreads product is handcrafted from reclaimed truck inner tubes—right here in Boulder, Colorado.

One hundred percent vegan, our materials are an ecologically sound alternative to animal products. And even though our bags are designed to keep on truckin' forever, it's always good to buy a spare. Following in the tire tracks of Henry Ford's original Model T, English Retreads are available in any color you want—as long as it's black!"

English Retreads gets the inner tubes from truck stops in the Boulder, Colorado area where they are located. And the bags are really cute, and can take a lot of wear and tear.

Alternation: The Perfect Eco-Chic Gift for Creative Sewers and Knitters

Do you have a person in your family that loves to sew or knit? If so, there is a great book just for them that shows you how to create new clothing and accessories out of old ones. This is a book written by two fellow Clevelanders, Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill. Both of the authors are extremely creative people as well as extremely interesting.

Alternation reflects their varied talents. To purchase Alternation, you can link directly to the page on Lake Erie Artists Gallery's website, and I will ship it right to you, or you can buy it directly from Amazon in the U.S. or Amazon in the UK.

Both Shannon and Alexandra are very into recycling and reusing old materials in new ways. Shannon is an expert knitter and crocheter. She has written several other books on both topics, the most well known is the knitgrrl series. For more information on Shannon's books, click here.

Alexandra Underhill (also known as Xan) is most well known as a costume designer, dancer, and stiltwalker. She also is a proponent of eating raw foods. If you see a woman on a pair of stilts, and her hair is blond with other colors mixed in, chances are that it is Xan. This is her first book.