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The Tindims of Rubbish Island

by Sally Gardner, illustrated by Lydia Corry

Interest age: 6 to 8
Reading age: 7+

Published by Zephyr, 2020

  • Adventure
  • Chapter books
  • Funny

About this book

The Tindims are tiny people who live on a floating island in the middle of the ocean. With their motto of ‘rubbish today is treasure tomorrow’, they collect litter from the sea, which they transform into anything and everything, from driftwood tables to plastic cup chairs. However, even the resourceful Tindims are struggling to cope with the vast quantities of plastic bottles they salvage from the waves.

After drifting into icy waters, the Tindims are keen to escape the snow for warmer climes, in time for the annual Brightsea Festival, when they give thanks to the ocean for providing them with treasures. Unfortunately, Bottle Mountain, which is constructed entirely from plastic bottles, is now so enormous that Captain Spoons cannot see beyond it to steer the island. The Tindims must work together to find a solution before it is too late. 

Combining eccentric characters, short chapters and lively illustrations, this delightful new series from a talented mother-daughter team is ideal for confident, independent readers. Full of joy and laughter, this quirky adventure also carries an important environmental message about waste, pollution and recycling.

About the author

Sally Gardner grew up amongst the drama of London’s law courts, as both her parents were lawyers. Having been branded ‘unteachable’ by some and sent to various schools, Sally was eventually diagnosed at the age of twelve as being severely dyslexic. Sally is now an avid spokesperson for dyslexia; she sees it a gift, not a disability, and is passionately trying to change how dyslexics are perceived by society.
 
Sally published her first book in 1993, thus beginning her illustrious career as a writer-illustrator to great international acclaim. The Countess's Calamity won the Smarties Prize in 2003. Her first full-length novel, and a turning point in Sally’s career, was I, Coriander which won the Nestle Children’s Book Prize Gold Award in 2005. Her novel The Red Necklace was shortlisted for the Guardian Book Prize in 2007, followed by the sequel, The Silver Blade. Her book, The Double Shadow, was hailed as ‘an astonishing departure for a writer who has found a new and very distinctive voice’. Sally lives in London.

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