THE RED TIN BOX

By Matthew Burgess * Illustrated by Evan Turk

Chronicle Books (April 4, 2023) * Available for ORDER

ISBN: 9781452179735 / Hardcover 10 x 9 5/8 H / 64 pages / Age Range: 3–5 Years

At once lyrical and profound, this enchantingly illustrated book is a joyful celebration of intergenerational relationships and of the secret treasures of childhood. Young readers and adults will delight in the memories and magic tucked away in the red tin box.

“Majestic illustrations with smudgy strokes and breathtakingly vibrant hues that bleed into each other—the reds, purples, and pinks of sunset, the blues and blacks of twilight—heartwarmingly limn Maude’s love for her family and the life she has lived. Simple, poetic language engages the senses throughout this quiet, subtle celebration of familial relationships. This is the perfect read-aloud to showcase how traditions and stories are passed down to future generations and that simple items can bring the most joy along with the stories attached to them… An unforgettable ode to intergenerational bonds.” –Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW

“[T]he ever-inventive Evan Turk serves up some first-rate illustrations, and the versatile author Matthew Burgess does what he does best with the text (creating gentle prose that radiates pure compassion).…in Burgess’ capable hands, each carefully chosen word feels just right. And each development in the narrative keeps the reader captivated.” –Mr. Brian’s Picture Book Picks

“When Maude turns eight, she buries a secret in a red tin box beneath a flowering dogwood. When Maude is a grandmother, she goes back. A beautiful story of generations and hidden treasures. Do you ever play that game where you pretend to be a picture book editor and then you play around with what would happen if you paired up some of your favorite authors with your favorite illustrators? Just me? Cool. Cool. Well, that’s my roundabout way of saying that this Burgess/Turk combo would totally be one of my ideal pairings. Turk is sometimes wholly reliant on the strength of a book’s text, and fortunately this story is a great match for his talents. I love how much of the second half shows that late afternoon setting sun light you only get in the autumn. Just between you and me, when I was a kid I buried a box of “treasures” in the ivy next to my parents’ house. Unlike Maude, I’ve no idea where exactly I put it. A book that not only inspires kids to think about the future, it may also give them the ability to realize that their parents and grandparents were once children like them too.” –Betsy Bird, School Library Journal