The Tindims of Rubbish Island; Sally Gardner, illustrated by Lydia Corry

Skittle, Admiral Bonnet, Captain Spoons, Brew, Ethel B Dina and friends are Tindims and they live on Rubbish Island. They are diminutive in size but they have a very big and important job. You see, the Tindims are recyclers. They have been recyclers for a very long time, in fact they were recycling before the word recycle even existed. They collect things from the ocean that the Long Legs (they’re humans by the way) have thrown away. What is rubbish to the Long Legs is treasure to the Tindims. The entirety of Rubbish Island is built from the treasure that the Long Legs have thrown away. From tables made from driftwood to entire rooms made from plastic bottles, the Tindims are experts in rescuing, repurposing and reusing.

But there’s only so many plastic bottles that one island needs and the Long Legs have not got the message. Bottle Mountain has become so big on Rubbish Island that the Tindims can no longer see to navigate their way across the ocean. Everyone is excited when they find a piece of treasure that could solve the problem, but when things go wrong Ethel B Dina is blown out to sea. A daring rescue mission begins and it will need the help of some special fishy friends if it is to be a success…

The Tindims of Rubbish Island is a sweet story from mother and daughter duo Sally Gardner and Lydia Corry. Plastic is a huge problem in the world and unless we do something about it things are only going to get worse. This delightful read is quirky, fun and packs a very important message. The Tindims show and tell young readers how to protect the planet. Whether it be from simply using less plastic or to repurposing what they use, The Tindims have no end of imaginative ways to use the treasure that they find in the ocean. What starts out as treasure becomes so common in the ocean that it even starts to lose its appeal to the Tindims. This is a sad but accurate reflection of the amount of plastic waste that is in the oceans.

The book has lots that will appeal to young readers. I love the matter-of-fact chapter titles that do exactly as they say. The songs and verse that are featured throughout are engaging and catchy (and will hopefully be remembered and sung), “Plastic bottles Long Legs please, they’re not meant to float in seas.” The illustrations are a delight and feature on every page - I particularly like the illustrations of the entirety of Rubbish Island where you can see it in all its repurposed and recycled glory. At the end of the book there are suggestions on what to do with a plastic bottle and a very important message to share at the beach.

A read that will surely attract the attention of the most reluctant readers. I would like to think that all young children will have the opportunity to read this book as the future of the planet is very much in their small hands. This is the first in a series of books featuring the Tindims and I very much look forward to reading their future recycling adventures.

Recommended for 5+.

With thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC.