The Bin Monster

The Bin Monster by Annabelle Hale (Affirm Press), RRP $22.99 Picture Book ISBN 9-781923-046436

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

The Bin Monster is a short-form (24-page) picture book about a common problem that many Australian households face once a week – their garbage bin awaiting collection has been ransacked and their stinky, mucky litter is all over the street!

Bricks stacked on top, sticks levered through the hinges, heavy water bottles tied to the handles – none of these tricks work to keep the lids shut. The monster must have strong arms, huge teeth and sharp claws because he or she keeps getting through the barriers and pulling the garbage out. That’s until the young narrator has the best idea of all to discover and thwart the culprit.

Through the lively illustrations, the author-illustrator takes us to a bustling suburban street where the neighbours are out in force, working together to combat the monster constantly littering their street. And in the end, when the narrator learns the identity of the rogue they’ve been fighting, the conclusion sends a message of living in harmony with the native wildlife.