The Dumpster Diver

Bibliography:

Wong, Janet. 2007. The Dumpster Diver. Ill. by David Roberts. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763623807

Summary:

Steve the electrician goes dumpster-diving for cast-off treasures, and three kids in his apartment complex like to help him out. They hose him and the trash off as he climbs out of the dumpster, and then they all work together to create something fun or useful from what he finds. A grouchy old lady says someone will get hurt, and one day Steve does in fact get injured by a dumpster. The kids then decide to collect Useful Junk straight from the source, by knocking on apartment doors and asking instead of waiting until it gets tossed in the trash. They even make something for Steve when he comes home from the hospital!

Analysis:

This is a creative and fun book about recycling and how to make useful things for free. The dumpster-diver in the book is an adult, so it does not encourage kids to do it themselves. I liked the ending, since it’s certainly safer to get treasures before they make it to the dumpster.

The illustrations are quirky and brightly-colored. They create the setting of a multicultural, urban environment. One thing that really adds to the “recycled” feel of the book is that the text on each page is printed on a different background of something you could find in the trash: duct tape, torn-up typewriter paper, bandaids, cut-up doilies, etc. This book could lead to discussion about trash and re-using, and then perhaps lead to action!

Reviews/Awards:

“The topsy-turvy artwork keeps things light, but adults will find plenty to talk about with children, from the value of creative conservation to safe modeling of the depicted activities (which include gathering junk from apartment tenants who may or may not be strangers). This will be popular anytime, but especially around Earth Day, when it will inject new possibility into enjoyment to reduce and recycle.” Booklist, starred review

“This urban trash-to-treasure tale will resonate with city dwellers and send suburbanites and kids in rural areas searching for similar adventures.” School Library Journal

Connections:
*Find pictures (online or in other books) of items people have made using “junk” and discuss this method of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.