What Can You Make of It?

Franz Brandenberg's "What Can You Make of It?" is a charming chapter book that follows a family of field mice as they grapple with a common household dilemma: what to do with a growing collection of seemingly useless items. Through teamwork and ingenuity, the mice transform their "rubbish" into something valuable and creative. The book handles themes of resourcefulness, imagination, and environmental awareness (through repurposing) in a gentle, accessible manner, making it suitable for young readers. The emotional arc is consistently heartwarming, starting with a minor challenge and culminating in a satisfying display of creativity and familial cooperation. This book is ideal for children who enjoy animal stories, those with a budding interest in crafts or recycling, or any child who could benefit from a story about finding purpose in everyday objects. Parents might reach for this book when looking for a comforting read-aloud that subtly encourages creative thinking and discussions about sustainability. Younger children (ages 4-6) will likely be captivated by the anthropomorphic characters and the visual aspect of their creations, while older children (ages 7-11) can appreciate the underlying messages of teamwork and problem-solving. Its focus on a family unit collaboratively tackling a creative project with found objects sets it apart from other books on similar themes.