Before everyone recycled . . .
There was a town that had 3,168 tons of garbage and nowhere to put it.
What did they ... read full description
There was a town that had 3,168 tons of garbage and nowhere to put it.
What did they ... read full description
reviews
Feb 21, 2012
Barb
rated it: 
Fun read aloud with older students. It is a longer book so students need a good attention span. YouTube has an interesting video on how the book was made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKag0LPVI... I showed this first to the students. Make sure you use your New York accent when reading the story. There's one line where the New Yorker says, "forget-about-it" but the spelling is funky so I completely misread it. The kids laughed the hardest at that... I sounded like a baby gurgling. You
More...
Jan 13, 2011
Kathryn
rated it: 
I'd heard some "buzz" about the illustrations in the book but really didn't know what the story was about. I must say that, while I appreciated the illustrations and found them very creative (Red Nose Studio "puts garbage to good use--by making art out of it!") I really was not a fan. The characters looked a little creepy/weird for my tastes.
As for the story, well, it was very interesting to hear about the "Garbage Barge" fiasco of 1987 in which a garbage More...
As for the story, well, it was very interesting to hear about the "Garbage Barge" fiasco of 1987 in which a garbage More...
2 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
May 18, 2010
Nielson
rated it:
This is such an interesting book! I have never heard this true story of the Garbage Barge. In 1987 people in the town of Islip, NY had 3,168 tons of garbage that they wanted to get rid of. The genius idea that was carried out was to pile all of that smelly trash on a garbage barge and take it down to North Carolina to dump there. Well you can imagine what North Carolina's reaction was....NO WAY! After many attempted tries of dumping the garbage in several states and even different countries, the
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 15, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I really enjoyed this story! I didn't know about the 1987 garbage barge fiasco and this title does a great job explaining what happened to the garbage of Islip, New York. The author explains why he changed some details and reworked the story. I wish that the story could be considered nonfiction but I also agree with his reasons for making changes to the story.
The book is kind of weird, but in a way that I think young readers will be delighted with. The artwork is created from tr More...
The book is kind of weird, but in a way that I think young readers will be delighted with. The artwork is created from tr More...
Apr 10, 2011
Salina
rated it:
This story was about a garbage barge that carries 3,168 tons of trash in the Eastern Seaboard during the late 1980s. The barge begins in the Long Island town of Islip, who is overcome by trash and tries to get rid of it by planning to dump it in some farmers' backyards. But North Carolina turned the barge away as other places did as well; Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, Mexico, and Belize. The barge returns to New York Harbor while the politicians decide what to do with their tr
More...
Feb 22, 2011
Q_Jill
rated it:
This book is hilarious. It is a great book to teach children about the importance of recycling and reducing waste. It is about the town of Islip, New Jersey in the 1980's when they had 3,168 tons of garbage and no where to put it. It was arranged to have the garbage shipped to North Carolina so it was loaded on a barge headed south. North Carolina refused to let the garbage in the harbor. the boat headed further south. It was rejected by New Orleans, Mexico, Belize, Texas and Florida. The
More...
May 13, 2011
NancyJo
rated it: 
While the illustrations in this one are really neat, I found the story itself to be a little akward.
In this highly fictionalized tale of an incident that happened in 1987, the main character, Cap'm Duffy, who talks like a pirate, sets out with a barge full of garbage that Islip (on Long Island) no longer wants or can put in their landfill.
Part of the reason I don't care for this book is because of the weird descriptions of the places they try and ump the garbage, the we More...
In this highly fictionalized tale of an incident that happened in 1987, the main character, Cap'm Duffy, who talks like a pirate, sets out with a barge full of garbage that Islip (on Long Island) no longer wants or can put in their landfill.
Part of the reason I don't care for this book is because of the weird descriptions of the places they try and ump the garbage, the we More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 24, 2010
David
rated it:
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
More...
Jan 10, 2011
Marguarite
rated it:
Teachers could use this to introduce a unit on recycling. It doesn't actually talk about recycling but it details actual events from the 1980s when a barge full of garbage was turned away by cities around the world and left to sail the waters in search of a place to bury it all. Very nice illustrations. The info says the pictures are "hand-built three-dimensional sets shot with a Canon digital SLR camera grafted onto the back of a Horseman 4x5 camera. The line art was drawn with Hunt 108 pe
More...
Nov 11, 2010
Marcie
rated it: 
Red Nose Studio really does deserve recognition for making the art of this book out of "wire, fabric, junk, and more. Unfortunately I had a library copy and had to take apart the jacket in order to see the details of how it was made. Illustrations look like claymation to an extent. This is a humorous fictionalized account of the 1987 New York City garbage barge that shipped 3,168 tons of Long Island's garbage to North Carolina. The Author's note explains the liberties taken. Reading th
More...
Mar 17, 2010
your neighborhood librarian
rated it:
Let me proceed carefully here. 1. Here Comes the Garbage Barge is based on the true story of the barge loaded with Long Island garbage that meandered up and down the Atlantic coast, rejected at every port from New York to Belize, during the summer of 1987. 2. Jonah Winter is a terrific author of children's nonfiction. I would not and will not assemble a school library without his biographies of Sandy Koufax , Dizzy Gillespie , Sonia Sotomayor , Diego Rivera , and others.
There's a big B More...
There's a big B More...
Sep 22, 2009
Stacy268
rated it:
Love, love, LOVE this one. As a resident of Staten Island, I used to see my fair share of garbage barges, but the story of Mobro 4000 and the trek to find a landing for the trash is simply amazing. This is a "fictionalized" account, but the story sells itself. The art is astounding. I first saw an ad for this in a professional journal, and was delighted when it showed up at work. The puppets and sets are amazing, and kids are sure to pour over the illustrations to see just what is
More...
Jun 24, 2010
Kristin
rated it:
This has been coming up like crazy on the Caldecott prediction blogs. In fairness, I probably would have given it 2 1/2 stars. It's an intersting story based on a true event. And the topic is especially relevant given the recent oil disaster. But overall, I just don't think it's that great. I usually love real collage art in picture books, and I started off thinking these illustrations were clever and visually appealing, but it's all just a little overdone and a tad bit creepy, especially all
More...
Mar 10, 2010
Heidi
rated it:
Grades K-Adult
Assembled garbage and wire and clay figures were photographed to tell the then-famous story of the New York Garbage Barge that, for months, traveled as far south as Belize in an effort to get rid of over 3,000 tons of garbage. In the end, the Long Island town of Islip had to take care of their own problem, and the recycling movement was born. Everyone can appreciate the author's humor (although it unnecessarily edges toward relying on Italian-American stereotypes), the time More...
Assembled garbage and wire and clay figures were photographed to tell the then-famous story of the New York Garbage Barge that, for months, traveled as far south as Belize in an effort to get rid of over 3,000 tons of garbage. In the end, the Long Island town of Islip had to take care of their own problem, and the recycling movement was born. Everyone can appreciate the author's humor (although it unnecessarily edges toward relying on Italian-American stereotypes), the time More...
Dec 22, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
This book inspired Breakfast and Books 2K10. It was illustrated by Red Nose Studio. The website is beautiful. The puppets are beautiful. The story is good. About a garbage barge that nobody wanted. There is a horse in a boat in Texas, and angry seniors on rafts in Florida. There is a tugboat named Break of Dawn driven by an exasperated Cap'm Duffy St. Pierre. There are shady business men and the statue of liberty plugging her nose. I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Jan 24, 2011
Muriel
rated it:
This book was really cute and could really engage some students in their later elementary school and early High School years. The illustrations in this book are phenomenal and could capture the attention of any curious student. One funny aspect of this book is the portrayal of the geographical locations that the Garbage Barge goes to dump the garbage. Many of them are stereotypical and/or slightly exaggerated, but will keep the readers interest.
Sep 22, 2010
Brianna
rated it:
This is one of the most charmingly illustrated picture books that I have seen in 2010. I love the "trashy" artwork and wish that this book could be a Caldecott contender, but its problematic portrayals of various ethnic groups give me pause. I laughed while reading and then felt bad for laughing because it is littered with stereotypes. Would be lovely to read one-on-one with a child, followed by a discussion of the problematic stereotypes.
Aug 05, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
Based on the true 1987 garbage emergency in Islip, NY, this is the story of the 6 month, 6-thousand-mile fiasco that was the New York Garbage Barge. While the illustrations are unique and the story is interesting, picture book format is not a great fit for this story. The story is not suited to early readers of any kind. The author would have done better to fill in the blanks a little more and make it an illustrated chapter book.
Apr 19, 2011
Angie
rated it:
Four stars for the AWESOME ART. Wish I knew how it was made. Apparently insde the book jacket there is an explanation. Unfortunately our Bound to Stay Bound copy came WITHOUT the cover jacket attached ... and w/o thinking or inspecting it carefully I threw it away (as I have yet to come up with a usable system for saving/filing/storing book jackets). So that is a :[ on me.
And four stars for the idea of the story.
Though three stars for the execution. It's more than a little wo More...
And four stars for the idea of the story.
Though three stars for the execution. It's more than a little wo More...
Feb 02, 2011
Melody
rated it:
Art from trash. This is the concept that makes "Here Comes the Garbage Barge!" such a great book. It could be used in conjunction with a program that has kids making their own sculptures out of what might be perceived as garbage. Or maybe as part of a recycling program to get kids motivated to do their part to help save the planet.
Too long for a preschool storytime but good for reading aloud to young elementary age kids.
Too long for a preschool storytime but good for reading aloud to young elementary age kids.
May 21, 2011
Jen
rated it:
I found this to be a very interesting book. I vaguely remember hearing about the Garbage Barge when I was in high school, but I can't believe how far the captain had to haul this junk before finally getting someone to take care of it! Wow! I could see this book being a great intro to Earth Week or a unit on recycling. I enjoyed the illustrations and also the piece at the beginning that tells how they were made.
Dec 14, 2010
Lupine
rated it:
Very torn on this book. I like Jonah Winter a lot. I like the lesson of the garbage barge and the true story aspect of it. I wish that there was more of how it affected people's view of garbage, how people started to change because of it...and I share the reservations about the depictions of shady characters of other reviewers. That said, I think it'd be fun to read aloud and an interesting topic to discuss.
Jul 30, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I expected more from a book with the kind of buzz this has recieved. I found the illustrations kind of creepy and old fashioned--they reminded me of claymation movies like Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer. The text was interesting, but could have flowed more smoothly. I'm not saying this might not win an award, while I don't like the illustrations that much, they are different and unique. If it does win an award, I'm thinking it would be an honor not a medal.
Apr 10, 2010
Beth
rated it:
This is as good story to talk about recycling and preparing for Earth day.
It is understandable that North Carolina, New Orleans, Mississippi, Mexico, Belize, Texas or Florida would want the trash from New York. After 162 days at sea it is taken care of in Brooklyn, NY. What was 3,168 tons of trash is just 430 tons and shipped back to Islip.
The story is based on real events in the 1980's.
It is understandable that North Carolina, New Orleans, Mississippi, Mexico, Belize, Texas or Florida would want the trash from New York. After 162 days at sea it is taken care of in Brooklyn, NY. What was 3,168 tons of trash is just 430 tons and shipped back to Islip.
The story is based on real events in the 1980's.
Oct 19, 2011
Paula
rated it:
Marvelous illustrations accompany this fictional account of the true story.
In the spring of 1987, the town of Islip, New York, with no place for its 3,168 tons of garbage, loads it on a barge that sets out on a 162-day journey along the East Coast, around the Gulf of Mexico, down to Belize, and back again, in search of a place willing to accept and dispose of its very smelly cargo.
In the spring of 1987, the town of Islip, New York, with no place for its 3,168 tons of garbage, loads it on a barge that sets out on a 162-day journey along the East Coast, around the Gulf of Mexico, down to Belize, and back again, in search of a place willing to accept and dispose of its very smelly cargo.
Oct 04, 2010
Tricia
rated it:
What a strange book! With characters looking straight out of the Rudloph the Red-Nosed Reindeer TV special, a garbage barge wanders about until it returns back to where it originated, Islip Long Island. The moral of the story is to make less trash...but I think my audience just was confused by the journey of the barge from Long Island to Belize to New Orleans and other ports.
May 25, 2010
Michael
rated it:
I picked up this volume on the recommendation of Books & Culture. The story is one that was in the news several years ago about the garbage barge from Long Island that no harbor wanted to admit. I would have liked it better if the author had told the story via rhyme. But what makes this book stand out is the unique art (clay figures, actual garbage, etc.) that illustrate the story.
Mar 31, 2010
Destinee
rated it:
I didn't particularly like the use of nonstandard spelling to convey the accents of the characters. Sometimes it's done well, but here it felt hammy.
It's a good story, though. I remember the first time I thought hard about where all of our garbage goes. I imagined that in my lifetime the whole world would be one big garbage dump. Here's hoping I was just a dramatic child.
It's a good story, though. I remember the first time I thought hard about where all of our garbage goes. I imagined that in my lifetime the whole world would be one big garbage dump. Here's hoping I was just a dramatic child.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 09, 2010
Phoebe
rated it:
The art in this book is absolutely amazing. I loved the expressive faces. The story it tells is a page-turner, and both my boys thought it was unbelievable--and when I told them it was TRUE, they were floored. A perfect story to promote the reasons for recycling. The author included a really good explanatory note that should be shared with one's audience.
Feb 17, 2011
Inge
rated it:
You can't help but smile when you read this. It would be perfect for a school-aged class visit. It's so clever, detailed, and down-right cute. The figures were obviously created with so much love and character. My favorite are the Mayor from New Orleans (so much bling) and the citizens of Florida (retirees floating in duck-faced inner-tubes).
