In 1987, a man named Lowell Harrelson agreed to take over 3000 tons of trash from New York; he planned to bring it to North Carolina, collect the methane from it, and turn it into energy. But an environmental official in North Carolina spotted medical waste on the barge and the state refused to take the trash. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Mexico, Belize, and the Bahamas also turned it away. At last, the trash returned to New York, where, before it was allowed to be unloaded, Greenpeace put a banner on it, which read, "NEXT TIME...TRY RECYCLING." The book, however, keeps a narrow focus on the rather absurd, classically American story of the barge itself, rather than the larger problem of trash and recycling.

Back matter includes photos of examples of reuse and an extensive select bibliography, with more resources on the author's website. The illustrations are done in acrylic paint, from scenic double page spreads of the barge in the ocean, to big-eyed, cartoonish talking heads. ( )

Young readers will be engaged by the ongoing drama of the infamous garbage barge being turned away port after port, country after country. A great launching point for discussion and projects about recycling, consumerism, and environmental footprints.