What This Book Is About
Juma's grandfather is a boat-builder on the Kenyan coast. The two of them gather the discarded plastic sandals that wash up on the beach, melt them down, and set about building a boat out of them. The whole community joins in collecting plastic, and at sunrise the finished sailing boat, the Flipflopi, puts out to sea.
This is a true story, and the back matter explains the real Flipflopi and what cutting down on single-use plastic involves. Written by Linda Ravin Lodding and Dipesh Pabari, with illustrations by Michael Machira Mwangi.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why We Recommend This Book
For A1-level readers (Grade 2), Flipflopi is an excellent pick for three reasons.
First, ocean conservation is something children in Singapore experience firsthand. Beach cleanups at East Coast Park, trips to the S.E.A. Aquarium, and lessons about marine ecosystems are part of daily life here. This book gives young readers a story that connects to what they already see and care about.
Second, it is a 40-page picture book, short enough to finish in one sitting, and the vocabulary around plastic, recycling and boat-building connects to science topics in the UWC curriculum.
Third, it is not a made-up lesson. The boat exists, the plastic came off a real beach, and it took a whole community to collect it. That is a stronger version of UWC's values of service and environmental responsibility than any invented story could be.
Reading Level Guide
Building foundations. Pre-A1 readers can enjoy this with a parent, focusing on the illustrations and key vocabulary about ocean life.
Perfect difficulty. Simple sentences and a clear story arc make this ideal for building reading independence.
Comfortable read at A2. Great for reinforcing environmental vocabulary and sparking project ideas.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.