Kids love following the adventures of The Happy Little Garbage Truck as he travels around his little community doing a good job! The artwork of this beautifully illustrated story (Steve Ferchaud) will have children mesmerized!  It makes a great read-aloud -- and children have fun while increasing their self esteem with the scrappy little truck!  The Happy Little Garbage Truck helps children see how having a healthy self esteem, developing positive friendships and doing a good job (such as keeping the community clean) are key skills for a healthy, happy life! This book is perfect helping children learn the following topics and skills: critical thinking - making good choices - doing a good job - helping one's community - community workers The Happy Little Garbage Truck was one of the few independently created books to be featured in Kirkus Review's Independent Magazine 2018, California's Orange Coast Community College Book Festival (2019) and was one of the three books selected for the finale of Michigan's Southfield Reads' Virtural Celebrity Readers Program (2020).   See why this unique story has become a favorite of so many children - especially those who love collecting garbage truck books!  Goodreads 2019 The Happy Little Garbage Truck by Josan Wright Callender and Mattie Wright is not only asweet and kind story that my granddaughter (age 6) loved, but the book's art work isbeautiful as well. Also, the story has a teacher's guide and a children's activity book that canaccompany it; they are filled with excellent ideas and fun activities that relate to the story.This is a treasure! Susan Delaney, Authors Corner Coordinator, Orange County Children's Book Festival 2019 The Happy Little Garbage Truck is a fun book for a read-aloud!  Its beautiful illustrations capture the fun adventures of this scrappy little truck!  Children connect with the little truck and while learning how doing one's best job helps a person to feel good about themselves!   - The Happy Little Garbage Truck shows children the importance of having a healthy self esteem, positive friendships and being involved in keeping the community "tidy."    - The Happy Little Garbage Truck teaches important character building skills! - This book includes wonderful teaching tips inside that are perfect for teaching literacy and social skills!  They give ideas for: critical thinking - making good choices - doing a good job - building self esteem - how to encourage and build friendships The Happy Little Garbage Truck was one of the few independently created books to be featured in Kirkus Review's Independent Magazine 2019, California's Orange Coast Community College Book Festival and was one of the three books selected for the finale of Michigan's Southfield Reads' Virtural Celebrity Readers Program.   Fun Literacy Building and Social Skills Tips for The Happy Little Garbage Truck There are five helpful ideas for increasing a child's literacy skills - and projects that will enhance their learning skills!Also, the book lists five wonderful social skills activities that can be used to enhance a child's self esteem ! Josan Callender is an author and a special education consultant. Having taught in the field of special education for 27+ years and holding a double Masters in Special Ed Leadership and Administration, Ms. Callender seeks to bring her experiences as a teacher, mentor teacher, teacher consultant and program specialist to a growing audience of children, parents and teachers in teaching social skills in a fun way! Mattie Wright grew up during the Great Depression and dedicated her life to improving the lives of others through her works. She was inspired by her grandfather William Zander, who would spin yarns as they sat around the fireplace. Mattie would make up stories for her siblings and became the families' story-teller, carrying on the tradition. Steve Ferchaud creates illustrations for several different projects, including magazines as well as newspapers and books. He has created artwork for tee-shirts and various labels. Steve has been drawing for as long as he can remember, and his parents say that he never went through the scribbling stage! Known for his whimsical art, Steve has illustrated more than 35 books, including the Benjamin Franklin Award winning book, The Carpenter's Legacy.