Young garbage-truck enthusiasts are sure to love amiable Mr. Gilly, who drives his truck around town all day looking for trash to pick up. The repetitive nature of his work is reflected in the phrase repeated on every page: “Dump it in, smash it down, drive around the Trashy Town! Is the trash truck full yet? No! Mr. Gilly drives on.” (Parents, get ready. Early reports indicate that this phrase will quickly begin to haunt you.) Mr. Gilly is surely a direct descendant of Margaret Wise Brown’s Little Fireman and Dan Yaccarino’s art is more than a little reminiscent of the illustrations by Esphyr Slobodkina. Highly Commended, 2000 Charlotte Zolotow Award (Ages 2-6)

I dump it in
I smash it down
I drive around the trashy town

Meet Mr. Gilly. He cleans up Trashy Town. He does it with a big smile and a big truck--which is sure to make him a hero with all the children in the neighborhood. David Clemesha and Andrea Zimmerman have created a rhythmic, repeatable refrain that will roll off the lips of every child. Dan Yaccarino's dynamic art puts the zip in Mr. Gilly's stride and adds style and charm to trash collection.

2000 Notable Children's Books (ALA)