Steadfastly maintaining self-respect in spite of their derogation by others, the three protagonists [of Mrs Fish, Ape, and Me, the Dump Queen]—Joyce, "Ole Dad" and Mrs. Fish—have a great deal to teach readers of any age.

Joyce, the central character who tells the story, lives with her uncle, Ole Dad, in a garbage dump, of which he is the caretaker. Together, they recycle old garbage into useful forms, critically eyeing the materialism and wastefulness of others. Ole Dad is a positive, nurturing single male parent, still a rarity in children's books.

Each of the three central characters must face the challenge of enduring the age-old sport of name-calling, and children who have experienced this indignity for any reason will find new strength from this story. Due to his short frame, large head and long arms, Ole Dad is tauntingly referred to as "Ape Man" by town...