Here Comes the Garbage Barge!

By Jonah Winter and illustrated by Red Nose Studio. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2010.

I know what you're thinking. Why would I want to read a picture book about garbage? Garbage is disgusting. Yes, that is so very true. But, this book isn't gross, and best of all, it's smell-free (unlike a real garbage can)! This book is so charming and funny, I promise you'll think new, positive thoughts about garbage (well, in the context of picture books, anyway).

This book is based on a true story. In 1987, in the town of Islip, New York, which is located on Long Island, they had a lot of garbage - around 3 tons - that had no where to go. So, it was decided to load all the garbage onto a barge and ship it out to dumping grounds in the South. But, surprise, surprise, no one wanted to take all this garbage. So the garbage barge traveled six months looking for a place to dump and dispose of its garbage, getting stinkier and smellier by the minute.

This picture book is wonderful for reading aloud. The humor and New York City expressions - "I know dis guy" and "Fuhgeddaboudit!" - will have you giggling right along. But what makes this book pop are the illustrations. They are photographs of sets made up of actual objects probably found in the trash, as well as wonderfully expressive polymer clay models of people. You will love looking at all the details of the garbage barge as well as the characters. This book is perfect for Earth Day, as it humorously relays the moral of the story - "DON'T MAKE SO MUCH GARBAGE!!!"