The Tin Forest is a wonderful book first published in Australia in 2003. Here is some good news this book is still available. I am not sure why it has taken me so long to talk about it here but last week I visited a very small rural school and took The Tin Forest along to share with them. This tiny school is part of a group of small schools and each term they work on a joint topic which this term is sustainability. The Tin Forest is an ideal book to explore this topic. I sat down today and read it again and knew I just had to talk about it here.
Why do I love this book?
1. Language
"There was once a wide, windswept place
near nowhere and close to forgotten."
I love these poetic words which are repeated at the beginning and end of the text.
Alliteration
sifting and sorting
burning and burying
toucans, tree frogs and tigers
Take a look at these detailed teaching ideas.
2. Work ethic and hope
Each day the old man clears up the rubbish. He does not become disheartened. He has a dream which leads to an idea which plants itself inside his head. With the help of some birds who come to eat crumbs, left from his sandwiches, we see a spectacular transformation of this neglected and unwanted place.
3. Illustrations
The grey used at the start of the book shows a desolate and metallic environment. The subtle colour palette in this book allows the reader to anticipate the brilliant colour when the real garden takes over the rubbish dump. The early pages have little spotlights of colour. The light is yellow inside the man's home, outside we see yellow light globes which look like flowers, a yellow toucan beak, bright red flowers that sprout from seeds dropped by the birds and finally a page filled with all the colours. Take a look at Wayne Anderson's web pages.
4. Stage Production and more formats
I was excited to discover a stage production of this book from 2014 and it is on again soon. I think that demonstrates it impact and importance of this story. Here is a wonderful animated film made by students from Cincinnati. You may even be able to find the edition which came with a story CD.
Helen Ward is an author and illustrator. You can see some of here work here.
This fantasy conveys a message all the more inspiring for its understatement: one individual who dares to dream can make a world of difference. Publishers Weekly
I like to link this book with these titles:
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