Here Comes the Garbage Barge! written by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Chris Sickels (Red Nose Studio)Back-of-the-book blurb: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Teaching environmental awareness has become a national priority, and this hilarious book (subtly) drives home the message that we can’t produce unlimited trash without consequences. Based on incredible true events, Jonah Winter brings us the flavorful story that starts in a little town on Long Island that has a big problem: 3,168 tons of garbage and nowhere to put it! Enter the garbage barge, who hauls the junk down the coast of North America looking for a place to dump it. . . .
She is Too Fond of Books’ review: Who remembers when the town of Islip, NY filled a barge with over 3,000 tons of garbage … and had no place to get rid of it?! The barge went up and down the east coast, looking for a port that would accept it. I remember this incident, which took place in 1987; aside from being an astounding news story, and a huge spotlight on the garbage problem in our country, it was fodder for satire from Saturday Night Live and David Letterman (back in 1987 I stayed up to watch them!)
Jonah Winter and Chris Sickels have combined creative forces to bring the story to young readers. Here Comes the Garbage Barge! tells the true tale of the journey of the “Break of Dawn” tugboat pulling the Mobro 4000 (the actual barge), complete with statistics:
Did you know that the average American makes about four pounds of garbage every day?
Well, a while back, in the town of Islip, the average person made seven pounds of garbage every day. Islip is a little town on Long Island, right near New York City, and Islip had a problem:
GARBAGE!
Brooklyn-accented phrases such as “Fuhgeddaboudit!” and “Here’s da deal.” …
… and incredible 3-D illustrations built from found objects; very appropriate given the book’s theme of environmental awareness and it’s message of “reduce, recycle, reuse.”
The inside of the dust jacket explains the illustration process: initial sketches, sculpting and painting heads for the characters, creating sets, and photographing the completed scenes. The Red Nose Studio blog has even more information and behind-the-scenes photos of the illustration process; it’s fascinating.
Here Comes the Garbage Barge! has an important message, especially in this day, when I believe that reduce and reuse can have a more significant impact than recycle. The book has prompted my elder son to suggest we weigh our garbage production and aim to reduce it. I’m impressed with his enthusiasm, but I’m not yet embracing the idea!
I remember the Islip incident! I should get this book: my husband and I are the King and Queen of generating garbage (and dirty laundry, but I guess that’s for another book…)
The little neighbor boy helps his dad with recycling and he has a birthday coming up in May. I think this would be a good book to give him as a gift. Thanks, Dawn!
I know a little boy who would like this!
As I read this to Booking Son, I faintly remembered the story. I really liked the humor, message and illustrations in this book!
I had a baby in 1987, so I wasn’t watching late night TV back then. I totally agree with you – I don’t think reduce and reuse are emphasized enough when it comes to the environment.
rhapsody – I’m intrigued! Is that literal or figurative dirty laundry?!
Beth – I think it will be a hit with him.
nicole – I’m so glad it seems to be a good fit for people
Julie – the humor really carries it (kids don’t feel like they’re being lectured to, or given a hard moral)
bermudaonion – I just cancelled our Boston Globe subscription. I read the NYT daily, which is the same parent company; many of the same articles … it was just getting recycled. A step in the right direction.
I remember the incident clearly. We generate way less garbage than the average, but we try to be savvy consumers and we definite recycle and reuse. Packing on some things is absolutely crazy — big box wrapped in plastic. Inside = lots of plastic foam, more paper, more plastic, and tiny little item. That kind of thing drives me crazy. I try to avoid excess packaging.
This sounds like a wonderful book! And the fact that it reuses materials is very cool as well. I also love the cover. Great review on this one, it looks like a fun read for kids and adults alike!
This is book speaks to me, as we are having “garbage issues” in our little town.
oh yes, I remember the incident too. an interesting way for this book to tackle the subject.
I think this book is going to help the teachers too, when they are teaching the kids about Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
It’s always good to give children books that give information.
Hope this is going to be a good one.