Author: Meghan McCarthy
Publisher: A Paula Wiseman Book-Simon & Schuster
Copyright: February 27, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4814-7752-9
Age Range: 4-8 (publisher's note)
Reading Level: Accelerated Reader- IL: LG, BL: 5, AR Pts: 0.5
Cost: $17.99
Pages: 48
SUMMARY: Award winning author/illustrator of Earmuff's for Everyone, Meghan McCarthy, is back with a stinky true story of the garbage barge that started an environmental movement. If you were born after 1987 you may have never heard of Mobro 4000 the garbage barge carrying 3,186 tons of trash from New York. "Stinky, smelly, and no one wanted it." This is the premise for the true story about a full garbage barge that was turned away from each port it stopped at whether North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and even Mexico. The problem began when Lowell Harrelson got wind, perhaps a little stinky, that a New York landfill was almost out of room. Harrelson agreed to take the garbage with the idea of harnessing energy from the methane gas produced from decomposing trash. The problem was everyone thought the barge was an environmental hazard and did not want it to make land. For months the barge traveled out at sea till finally a judge ordered the trash to be burned. McCarthy uses painted illustrations and narrative format to guide the reader through the barge's journey. The story includes quotes from the many people involved in the fiasco and a brief nod to Greenpeace. The book takes a lighthearted approach with the content and illustrations. One always needs reminders of where our trash really goes, and what we can do about it.
CRITIQUE: While this is not the first children's book to take on the "Garbage Barge" story, it does take a different approach utilizing direct quotes and provides extensive background information. The title definitely stands out and draws the reader in. The comical caricatures keep the story fresh and appealing. This book has not won any official awards, but drew a starred review from the School Library Journal. I do agree with Publisher's Weekly review stating "the discussion of America's problem with stuff, as referenced in the subtitle, is relegated to the extensive back matter." While I do appreciate the extensive back matter at the end of the book it would have been nice to address our problem with stuff in the story narration. This book would be an excellent resource for teachers and parents who want children to understand where trash goes and why too much of it is a problem.
“The year was 1987 and a ship full of trash was about to become famous…The narrative is immensely readable…A fresh take on a story of old garbage guaranteed to spark conversations and a desire for actions among students. Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
FEATURES INCLUDED: Photos of the Break of Dawn (tugboat) and barge, Garbage Barge Facts, Recycling Facts, Garbage Facts, Ocean Garbage Facts, photo examples of recycled materials, and Select Bibliography appear at the end of the story. For a complete bibliography and further information you can visit: meghan-mccarthy.com/allthattrash.html
EXAMPLES:
COMPARISONS/RECOMMENDED READING:
Jonah Winter and Red Nose Studio's Here Comes The Garbage Barge , a New York Times Best Illustrated book of 2010, Huffington Post Best Book of the Year, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, covers the same topic as All That Trash. The illustrations are amazing; however, the book is considered "mostly true," and does not provide extensive historical background the book above does. It also took some liberties when retelling the tale. Using both books could be beneficial.
Trash Talk: Moving Toward a Zero Waste World discusses what we can do with all the trash we generate daily. This book would make a nice companion story in discussing ways landfills have been used in the past, and what ways people around the globe are dealing with waste looking towards the future.
Travel along with Bag in the Wind as a plastic bag blows away from a landfill and is reused time and again. This environmental story would pair nicely with All That Trash as a companion read in discussing how items can be reused.
SUGGESTED USES: All That Trash would be an excellent resource for schools when teaching about recycling, environmental conservation, and sparking discussions on lifestyle changes. If I was still teaching science I would have my students track where their current trash goes, what landfills are in the area, and discuss ways they could reduce their impact on the environment.
This book would aid in teaching the following Indiana State Standards:
K.ESS.4 Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
1.ESS.4 Develop solutions that could be implemented to reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
4.ESS.4 Develop solutions that could be implemented to reduce the impact of humans on the natural environment and the natural environment on humans.
5.ESS.3 Investigate ways individual communities within the United States protect the Earth's resources and environment.
