Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don’t) Throw Away

Gr 2-4–Nelson Molina grew up in East Harlem, New York City. He learned early on from his mother that nothing was worthless and that even things that seemed like trash had value if upcycled or repurposed. From his father he learned the pleasure of collecting and displaying treasures. As a sanitation worker, Molina discovered many unique items thrown away in the day. Treasure by treasure, he developed what has now become The Trash Museum, an unofficial collection of finds from the garbage housed in a Sanitation Department garage. The illustrations effectively capture the joy of discovery and the dignity of Molina’s work and life’s mission. Back matter encourages readers to employ the four R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink) when it comes to the resources they use and discard.