Bottle Tops
What’s inside...
The inspiring biography of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui whose handmade sculptures, created from discarded bottle tops, have received international acclaim and been showcased around the world. 'If you touch something, you leave a charge on it and anybody else touching it connects with you, in a way.' -- El Anatsui. El Anatsui has always written his own story. As an art student at the University of Ghana, El noticed that the artists and styles he was studying were grounded in European traditions. Curious about his own culture's art history, El observed his people and found stories in the fabrics they wore and the way they used recycled goods. He decided to tell these stories through his artwork. El experimented with different mediums -- firing broken clay into new pots and cutting wood into sculptures using a chainsaw. Each time El tried something new, he brought with him the experience of all the experiments he did before. After coming across a discarded bag of shimmering bottle tops, El;
Age
7-11
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the bottle tops in the story represent and why are they important?
How did the characters' feelings change throughout the book, and what caused those changes?
Can you think of a time when you helped someone, like in the story? How did it make you feel?
Why is it important to work together, as shown in the book?
What would you have done differently if you were one of the characters?
Tip: Role play these questions
Set a relaxed and open atmosphere for the discussion, maybe with the book in hand to refer to particular scenes or illustrations.
Encourage your child to express their opinions and feelings about the story, even if they differ from your own.
Use follow-up questions to delve deeper into your child's thoughts, such as 'Can you tell me more about that?' or 'Why do you think that?'
Connect the themes of the book to real-life situations or experiences that your child might relate to, enhancing understanding and empathy.
Praise your child's responses to boost their confidence and encourage a love for reading and discussing books.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: In 'Bottle Tops', the characters work together to build an art project from recycled materials, demonstrating the value of collaboration.
Real-World Application: Children learn to cooperate with peers in school projects or during playtime, understanding that combined efforts often lead to better outcomes.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Innovation
Explanation: The book highlights using everyday items creatively, encouraging kids to see potential in ordinary objects.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this by engaging in crafts or building projects using items found at home, fostering an inventive spirit.
Example Lesson: Environmental Awareness
Explanation: Through its focus on recycling, 'Bottle Tops' teaches the importance of reusing materials and caring for the environment.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to participate in recycling programs at home or school and be mindful of their environmental impact.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving
Explanation: The story showcases characters solving the challenge of what to do with leftover bottle tops, promoting critical thinking.
Real-World Application: Children can use problem-solving skills in various situations, such as figuring out how to fix a broken toy or resolving a dispute with a friend.