Nelson learned to reduce, rethink, reuse, recycle, upcycle and share. When he grew up he became a NYC Sanitation Worker/trash collector but continued to rescue things and soon started a museum. The
Treasures in the Trash Museum is near the MoMA in NYC.
My husband did similar work in the Midwest and our kids learned to be more conscious of waste and the strange things some people will toss out.
The illustrations by Oriol Vidal are meaningful, fun, appropriately colorful, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to EVERYONE, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from SOURCEBOOKS Kids | Sourcebooks Explore via NetGalley. Thank you!
#CanadianAuthor

This is both biography and a philosophy about finding uses for old things. An everyday sanitation worker in New York City collected things that were broken, but could be fixed could be reused, could be reimagined. He turned his treasures into a museum. His idea was to show people that what one person thinks is trash, could be treasure because he grew up with the lesson that all things are used until there is no use left. This was a lovely story that I think kids will get behind whether an environmentalist or not.

Gifts From a Garbage Truck is one I’ll add to my environmental activism unit as it’s a true story about a sanitation worker who took treasures from the trash to be repurposed. They eventually made his collection into a museum. It gives many ways to repurpose items at the end of the book.

This is a great addition to any elementary school or public library. This true story about NYC sanitation worker Nelson Molina is kid friendly and very accessible. A good companion for lessons on the environment, recycling/ up cycling, urban professions/workers, and art projects using found objects..

This nonfiction picture book shares the story of Nelson Molina, a former New York City sanitation worker who rescued special items from the trash, began a collection, and then started a museum of treasures and unique items that people have thrown away. This book shares about formative experiences and big moments from Molina's childhood and career, and there are pictures in the author's note at the end.

However, this book doesn't explain that the museum isn't just a passion project, but is also the only way to preserve these items, since New York City sanitation workers are forbidden from taking items from the trash for their own personal use or profit. The author ought to have included this key context, but the story is engaging and thought-provoking, and it can start great discussions about reducing waste.

This is a Children's book that tells a true story that I read to my twin boys. I really loved reading this book, and this story was so great. This story makes us want to find a way to reuse an item. I love the pictures in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Weekly kids book review part one📖📚🧸

A Kids Guide to the Night Sky by John Reed (publish date September 30) Add this to your TBR list if you teach preschool or elementary and want to teach about the solar system! The details were to the level of kids understanding and the pictures were so fun! A wonderful book! @johnread @sourcebookskids

Dinosaurs in Space by Todd Sturgell (publishing date September 2) My kids have been loving space and dinosaurs lately, so this was a fun new book to read at bedtime. I loved the illustrations, information, and fun types of dinosaurs they added in this story. It was a big hit at our house with three boys. @toddsturgell @sourcebookkids

Stop, Soar, Dinoroar by Max Amato (publish date September 30) Terri the Tricerotops takes your child on a really fun, energetic trip through all the places with all the fun sounds! This was such a fun interactive book. @max_amato_ @sourcebookskids

In The Winter by Lauren Kukla (publish date November 11) Oh I so loved this sweet, beautiful book! A sweet time to travel through a winter wonderland and explore along the way. Wonderfully done! @lauren.kukla.payne @northstareditions

How to Catch the Sandman by Alice Walstead (publish date September 2) A book that keeps a child’s attention is always a win, and this was it! Super fun, and adorable. My kids loved this story! @alicawalstead @sourcebookskids

The Littlest Weaver by Robin Hall (publish date October 2) A little girl and her pa weave beautiful rugs in the Appalachian mountain. Her mommas angel hands guide her to do it. Fantastic book! So many heartstrings felt with this one. @robinhall @familiusbooks

The Snow Thief by Alice Hemming (publish date September 2) The first time squirrel has seen snow, and what a fun adventure it is! Squirrel takes the readers on a beautiful adventure through the snow. @alicehemmingauthor @sourcebookskids

Gifts from the Garbage Man by Andrew Larsen (publish date September 2) What we throw away may be worth keeping, and the garbage man tells all the ways to see them from a different perspective! Loved this book as an adult and the concept. Such good conversations. @_andrewlarsen @sourcebookskids

I recommend this book on three shelves in my TrueStory Bookshop:
True Stories~Makers
True Stories~Activists
True Stories~Hispanic & LatinX Stories
https://bookshop.org/shop/KarlinGray

This is a really lovely story about a really special person, but also about the community and ecosystem of NYC. I am passionate about the object lifecycle and both about taking things people have put out on their stoops and about "feeding" the stoop with my own things I no longer use, so this was the perfect book for me. I love how this will make kids think about the environment, trash, etc., without freaking them out overly (bc climate anxiety is real!).
The art is also gorgeous and affecting.
Thanks to Netgalley for the EARC.