Junk: A Spectacular Tale of Trash

by Nicholas Day, Tom Disbury (Illustrations)

2019 Green Earth Book Awards - Short List Sylvia Samantha White is very good at finding--she just doesn't know exactly what all her "junk" is good for, not yet at least. But when completely ridiculous disaster strikes, she springs into action and uses her junk to create solutions to the town's troubles. A charming ode to collecting, creating, and following your bliss--even when you're not entirely sure where it will lead you.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Transport, Stem

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2018

About the author

Nicholas Day is an award-nominated author who writes predominantly within the horror, science fiction, and crime genres.

Currently, he co-owns Rooster Republic Press and Strangehouse Books with fellow writer Don Noble. In addition to this, the duo handle acquisitions and oversee production for Bizarro Pulp Press, an imprint of JournalStone.

Reviews

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the different days of the week, Sylvia Samantha Wright finds junk. When asked what she is going to do with it, Sylvia replies, "I'm working on something." It is not until she meets Ezekiel Mather that Sylvia Samantha Wright finally admits she doesn't know what she's doing with the junk. Ezekiel Mather tells her, "That's the best part," he said. "The part before you know." It is not until the city's water tower springs a few leaks that Sylvia Samantha Wright finds uses for her junk. She saves the city and they all have a party afterwords. Then on Monday she finds . . .

The whimsical illustrations will delight readers. The uses Sylvia Samantha Wright finds for her junk follows the adage of recycle and reuse. It is a story with creative ways to use junk. This book will appeal to little, creative junk collectors. It would also be good for a language arts unit on recycling or learning days of the week.I recommend this book for pre-kindergarten and up.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sylvia Samantha Wright is a collector. She picks up all sorts of things as she goes about her daily life. She's not really sure why she collects the stuff she does, but she knows that one day it will come in handy. When disaster strikes her small town, all that junk turns out to be quite useful, and Sylvia Samantha Wright saves the day with some quick and innovative thinking. The illustrations made me smile since they showed some creative uses for things others threw out. I also had to smile at the notion that the best part of creating is right before that wonderful idea comes to us. Creative spirits like this child and her elderly mentor will find themselves in this humorous picture book. That poor old mayor will never doubt this girl again.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m 100% on board with reduce, reuse, and recycle, but I’m not sure I want my kids to start collecting junk (especially potentially hazardous junk) when they don’t even know what they’ll reuse it for. That sounds like a recipe for a very cluttered house/garage.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What kid (or adult, for that matter) wouldn't be drawn to a book with the title of Junk?

Where most people see trash, Sylvia Samantha Wright sees possibilities. But even she doesn't always see what the trash can be turned into--she just knows it's something. She collects leaky tires, a pack of gum with a few sticks left, empty paint cans, discarded pipes and motors. Each time, she's questioned what she's going to do with the discarded trash she answers, "I'm working on something."

But she really has no idea what she's going to do with her stuff. An encounter with Ezekiel Mather changes everything. He reassures her that she will indeed, discover what she needs to know.

When the community's water tower springs a leak, the mayor finds herself with a serious problem.

A problem, that only Sylvia--and her junk--can fix.
Written by Nicholas Day with whimsical illustrations by Tom Disbury, this adorable picture book will entertain and educate kids and adults. With a positive slant on creative recycling, this book is a great curriculum resource for ages 4-8.

Giving this book away on my blog carolbaldwanblog.blogspot.com. Enter by August 17

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible font. Why??

[Little Batties · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is like the phrase "one person's trash is another person's treasure" meets "reduce, reuse, recycle."

Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this story when I first decided to read it. It's actually super cute though. The idea that all these random items could be turned into so many different things is a testament to the endless possibilities of children's imagination. It can also teach young ones the value of helping others and you community.

If you were to read this in a classroom, you could give students some random art supplies and have them create something to help their family or the community. I think giving them that free range if creativity would definitely lead to some interesting results.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this resourceful girl main character in the story who made her family and neighbors worried at all the trash she collected for use for something she hadn't thought of yet but would use eventually. No one believes in her ability to use it for good until the water tower in the town springs a leak. Fun ending and interesting illustrations.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl collects an odd assortment of what seems to be trash, and doesn't yet know what it will be used for. She is encouraged by an elderly man named Ezekiel, who says the part before you know is the best part. When an increasingly ridiculous accident befalls the town, all of the unrelated objects will prove to be exactly what is needed to save the day.

[Mary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the junk she finds is useful in the end.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That's the best part," he said. "The part before you know." What a fun book about being creative and making a new friend.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sylvia finds things that no one wants before she knows she has a need for them. Cute story about repurposing things that others would consider trash/junk.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thinking back on books I’d use in the classroom, this is a fun read but doesn’t add value. My students might be able to take something from it, but otherwise not much else.

[Dian Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book and important lessons about recycling and thinking outside the box.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about ideas, creativity, and following your heart.

[Mosley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky tale about hoarding/recycling.

[Laura Citty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great lessons to be learned in this book for kids of all ages. The book teaches about how old, unused items can be useful and practical, and shows that even "old" people can have vitality and life. I also enjoyed the illustrations a lot.