The Tin Forest (Rise and Shine) Paperback – Picture Book, October 13, 2003

I used this book for my middle-grade Sunday School class when we talked about our God-given ability and responsibility to create beauty. It's a creative and dramatic illustration of the "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" theme. In spite of its use for a Christian Sunday school (our curriculum guide recommended it), it is not a "religious" book; there are no Christian, nor any other religious, terms, and I think the book would be suitable for children, or even adults, of any religion or culture. Besides the theme of creating beauty from ugliness, I think it would work with a discussion of environmental issues.I've added this to my collection of "Beautiful Books for Grandchildren."

Great book. I’ve read this book to my kids and it’s one of their favorites.

This is a great book to inspire young gardeners and scientists to find solutions for environmental problems. I used to read it to students (2nd/3rd grade) and then we built beautiful gardens at school.

I love how creative this book is. I work as a teacher in a first grade summer camp that operates on limited funds and supplies. After reading this book (which the children LOVED), they created their own "Tin Forest" that stretches from floor to ceiling. The imagination in the book has carried over to the campers and every day brings an adventure and a new performance as campers put on plays, dance, and pretend to be in a magical forest.

I start to wonder whether the lost art of children's books shall have a renaissance. This picture book, by my favorite illustrative author, Wayne Anderson, tells a beautiful and succinct story about the power of positive thought and making your own reality resplendent. The art is sophisticated but still within the reach of a child's imagination. No baby talk, no crude crayola drawings.....it's for the elevated child. So happy to find this on Amazon!

The illustrations are amazingly beautiful, and the story is inspirational, as with all of Helen Ward's books. The illustrations alone are a reason to buy and read this book. Each page is absolutely gorgeous. I've never seen a more beautifully illustrated children's book.

Our family loves everything about this book from the illustrations and the storyline to the wonderful discussions it inspires about environmentalism and recycling.

This is such a beautiful children's book. The message and illustrations are truly wonderful. I've read it for years in my first grade class. The children enjoy it.