Opening Sentence
"Three monks, Hok, Lok, and Siew, journeyed along a mountain road, trying to understand what makes one happy"
Stone Soup
Jack, Maddy, Lily
Mighty Jack
This is what the three monks use to begin making soup when they arrive in the village.
What is a stone?
This piece of advice from Nelson Molina’s mother becomes his life’s guiding motto.
“If someone can use it, don’t throw it away”
This tiny mouse is the unlikely hero of the story.
Despereaux
"Okay, here's the deal: a whole day of..."
No Talking
Dave, Lynsey, Mr. Lipton
No Talking
The villagers feel this way when the monks first arrive in their village.
What is suspicious, fearful, or untrusting?
Nelson collects these kinds of objects throughout his work as a sanitation worker.
discarded items, “trash,” or things people throw away
Despereaux breaks mouse rules when he talks to this human character.
Princess Pea
"Often, Nelson came across oddly shaped garbage bags".
Gifts from the Garbage Truck
Jack, Charlie
This Way, Charlie
The monks ask the villagers to bring these things to add to the stone soup.
What are vegetables (or food/ingredients)?
He arranges his collection by this, turning it from junk into something meaningful for others to see.
organizing by color, theme, or display (creating a museum)
This rat, who loves both darkness and light, seeks revenge after frightening the queen.
Roscuro
Jack watched the new animals scamper, hop, flap, and trot their way into Open Bud Ranch.
This Way, Charly
Jasmine, Jackson, Elliott
Wedgie and Gizmo
The story teaches this lesson about what happens when people share and work together.
What is community, generosity, or cooperation?
This is one way Gifts from the Garbage Truck encourages readers to rethink their role in the community.
by showing how small actions of reuse, upcycling, or caring for discarded objects can build community and respect
The story teaches this lesson about courage, forgiveness, and the power of love.
even the smallest person can be brave, and love and kindness are stronger than fear or revenge
"Jack might be the only kid in the world who's dreading summer."
Mighty Jack
Roscuro, Botticelli, Miggery Sow
The Tale of Despereaux
At the end of the story, the villagers discover this about themselves after sharing the soup.
What is that they have more than enough when they come together (or that they are stronger as a community)?
In the end, Nelson’s project helps people change how they see this concept.
“trash” or “waste” (or what we throw away)
This character is a servant girl who dreams of being a princess but is tricked into helping Roscuro.
Miggery Sow