The Dumpster Diver

By Janet S. Wong

Illustrated by David Roberts

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers through 3rd grade

Happy Earth Day! In honor of this special day set aside to take care of our earth home, we have a title called 'The Dumpster Diver'. Steve is the neighborhood dumpster diver. Once a month he dons a yellow scuba diver's jacket, a face mask and a snorkle to dive into the dumpster behind the appartment building. He finds interesting stuff but it's what he does with the stuff that's so cool. A pair of broken skis, some nuts, bolts, wheels and a torn umbrella become a paraskater. An old blender becomes a lamp, a lamp becomes a table and so on. Steve is an expert at turning junk into treasure and the kids learn fast. When Steve has an accident while diving one day, the kids put their learning to work and create something perfect just for Steve.

Recycling trash into treasure is one way to keep garbage out of a garbage dump. Since this week is TV Turn-Off week, you've got some time on your hands so why not raid the recyling bin and see what you can find? Can you turn what you were going to throw away into something useable? Dumpster Diver Steve would be proud!