The Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong, illustrated by David Roberts. 

I was charmed by this book when I opened it to the end pages and found a mishmash of different insects.  The dumpsters near the children’s buildings are filled with treasure, but it takes the Dumpster Diver to find it.  Suited with a yellow raincoat, snorkeling gear, heavy gloves and flippers, Steve is ready to enter the dumpsters.  It takes an entire diving team of children to support him, much to their delight.  And the treasure they find may be garbage to others, but is soon built into fantastic creations.  As Steve says, “Junk is good!”

This is not a sweet-scented, clean dumpster experience.  It is dangerous, dirty, icky and gross.  The fact that this all ends with cleaned up items that are made into useful furniture, toys and more is what makes the book so successful.  I love that it is not a sanitized version of junk collecting but instead embraces the icky along with the finds. 

Share this with an art class, kids who enjoy a good rummage around, or anyone who sees value in things that others toss out.  It will inspire children to see functionality and art in everyday objects.