The Secret Life of Pets meets The Bad Guys in DOWN IN THE DUMPS, an all-new, highly illustrated early chapter book series about three unlikely friends—a rotten banana, a broken tea pot, and a crusty blob of gunk—and their adventures together in the local town landfill. Santa who? Nana has never heard about Christmas until the old toys of the Westerfield Waste Transfer and Recycling Center tell her about the most magical night of the year! In A Very Trashy Christmas , the third book in the Down in the Dumps series, Nana learns that Santa Claus delivers toys to all the good boys and girls and so she insists on writing him her own letter. But when Santa arrives with their gifts in tow, the Forklift of Doom mistakes Santa’s sleigh for rubbish. Can Nana and her trash friends band together to save Christmas before it’s too late? A Very Trashy Christmas is the third book in the Down in the Dumps series from beloved author-illustrator Wes Hargis. It will have even the most reluctant readers writing Santa for more adventures! HarperChapters build confident readers one chapter at a time! With short, fast-paced books, art on every page, and milestone markers at the end of every chapter, they're the perfect next step for fans of I Can Read! Perfect for holiday storytime and family reading - Filled with joy, wonder, and the spirit of the season - A delightful Christmas gift for readers everywhere Gr 2–5—The third book in the "Down in the Dumps" series is a story about a broken-down sleigh, Santa, and all the stinky fun three friends have in getting Santa to visit them on Christmas Eve at the Westfield Waste Transfer & Recycling Center. Nana, a rotten banana, Mrs. Kettle, a broken teakettle, and Moreland, a blob of chewing gum, all live happily together in the town dump. Out for a winter's morning stroll, Nana spots a red boot sticking out of a newly dumped pile of trash. Getting Moreland to help, they yank out a funny looking toy doll whom Nana immediately names Steve, but who looks just like Santa. Pretty soon, "Steve" has all of the other residents of Westfield wondering why the real Santa never visits them on Christmas Eve. Maybe it's because he doesn't know they're at the dump? Nana and Mrs. Kettle decide that it's time to fix that. The book is fast-paced; it has a colorful cover; every busy page is filled with plenty of black-and-white illustrations. Chapter endnotes cheer readers on by marking their progress with the number of chapters—and sometimes the number of words—that they've just read. Attention-grabbing phrases such as "layered slime cookies," "snot bubble," and the "forklift of doom" will have young readers giggling. Hargis wraps up the fun by suggesting three "Super Stinky Games" readers can play that promise to engage their creativity. VERDICT A recommended purchase.—Cheryl Blevens “The book is fast-paced; it has a colorful cover; every busy page is filled with plenty of black-and-white illustrations. Chapter endnotes cheer readers on by marking their progress with the number of chapters—and sometimes the number of words—that they’ve just read. Attention-grabbing phrases such as “layered slime cookies,” “snot bubble,” and the “forklift of doom” will have young readers giggling. Hargis wraps up the fun by suggesting three “Super Stinky Games” readers can play that promise to engage their creativity. VERDICT A recommended purchase.” - School Library Journal Wes Hargis wanted to be a professional dirt miner when he grew up. Unstable market prices for dirt led him to pursue his second love, and he has been an illustrator for more than fifteen years. Mr. Hargis lives with his family (and his dirt) in Arizona.