Book Review - Bag in the Wind by Ted Kooser

Bag in the Wind

by Ted Kooser
illustrated by Barry Root

“It was a bag for carrying groceries, just the color of the skin of a yellow onion, and it had two holes for handles. It was a perfectly good bag, but someone had thrown it away.”

In our modern-day, throwaway culture, consumers often give little thought to the items they discard or where their so-called "garbage" ends up.

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser writes the story of one yellow plastic bag, the journey it takes, and the value and use it still holds.

As with all of Kooser’s writing, the depth of thought, care, and emotion put into each word show the skilled hand of a master writer at work. The can capture the attention of a small child as they read about the bag, the wind, and the landfill from which it flies, while also poignant to audiences of all ages as we consider the impact we have on the environment.

Barry Root’s illustrations are a beautiful compliment to Kooser’s equally lovely prose and significant message.