But I Love My Old Jeans!
Quick Look
- Sky's old jeans are too small, but she stubbornly doesn't like any of the new pairs in the shop -- new jeans just aren't the same!
- A lady's patchwork dress inspires Sky and Mama to make the old jeans into a new patchwork pair using their old clothes
- Sacha Khodabux's playful story celebrates creativity, upcycling and opting out of the fast fashion ecosystem
- Leriette Desir van Bergen's distinctive illustrations are vibrant with bold colours and denim textures
Sky overcomes the tragedy of outgrowing her favourite pair of jeans and discovers the joys of upcycling. A fun picture book with rich, textured illustrations and a gentle anti-consumerism, pro-creativity message at its heart.
Description
"I don't want new jeans! I want the exact same ones again."
Sky loves her jeans, but when she grows out of them, no pair she tries on feels as good.
But maybe she doesn't need new jeans, if she can make her old ones into something special. Together, Sky and Mama use worn-out old clothes to make the perfect pair of patchwork jeans. Not only does Sky now have something new and unique to wear, but she doesn't have to give up her beloved old jeans.
This striking and joyful picture book both empathises with the familiar unease of letting favourite things go, and encourages children to reduce waste and upcycle clothes, all while celebrating their own creativity and individuality.
Author
Sacha Khodabux is an author and storyteller from The Netherlands. Her debut picture book, But I Love My Old Jeans!, is inspired by childhood memories of her Surinamese grandmother, a seamstress who created beautiful patchwork clothes from scraps of batik fabric. Sacha's mother taught her to sew at a young age, and she has now passed those skills on to her own two daughters. She hopes that her book will pass on her love of making, reusing and sewing to as many children as possible. Sacha lives with her family in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Leriette Desir van Bergen is a children's book illustrator whose colourful artwork blends handmade collage with digital techniques to create richly layered illustrations filled with texture and warmth. Born in Haiti, Leriette grew up across three continents and her multicultural upbringing shapes the way she sees the world today. She loves creating stories that invite young readers to slow down, look closely and let their imagination wander. Leriette is based in Antwerp, Belgium.
Christian Maclean has worked in publishing for 50 years. He lives in Edinburgh, UK.
