Tokyo Digs a Garden - Hardcover

"A challenging 21st-century fable sure to spark discussions." Kirkus Reviews
"Adults who like artistic picture books should take to this one...a thing of beauty." The New York Times
"The illustrations, created digitally with watercolor, ink drawings, and collage, are big and blocky and could be used in and of themselves as an art lesson on the illusion of space through collage. The text is neither too simple nor too complex but just what is needed to relate this imaginative tale of environmentalism...This title could be used in a wide variety of academic disciplines, including science, art, social studies, and language arts." School Library Journal
"In this haunting modern-day fairy tale from newcomer Lappano, nature, long pushed out of a city, pushes back." Publishers Weekly
"The resulting absolutely delightful sustainability-manifesto is made even more stupendous with Hatanaka s witty, entertaining, sly illustrations . . ." BookDragon
"Tokyo Digs a Garden will resonate with many urban children and their parents who may seek the rural outdoors whenever possible." CM Magazine
"Kids of all ages will respond to the deep messages embedded in the fertile soil of Tokyo Digs A Garden." Midwest Book Review
"

Short-listed for the Governor General's Literary Awards, Young People's Literature - Illustrated Books
"A challenging 21st-century fable sure to spark discussions." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Adults who like artistic picture books should take to this one...a thing of beauty." -- The New York Times
"The illustrations, created digitally with watercolor, ink drawings, and collage, are big and blocky and could be used in and of themselves as an art lesson on the illusion of space through collage. The text is neither too simple nor too complex but just what is needed to relate this imaginative tale of environmentalism...This title could be used in a wide variety of academic disciplines, including science, art, social studies, and language arts." -- School Library Journal
"In this haunting modern-day fairy tale from newcomer Lappano, nature, long pushed out of a city, pushes back." -- Publishers Weekly
"The resulting absolutely delightful sustainability-manifesto is made even more stupendous with Hatanaka's witty, entertaining, sly illustrations . . ." -- BookDragon
"Tokyo Digs a Garden will resonate with many urban children and their parents who may seek the rural outdoors whenever possible." -- CM Magazine
"Kids of all ages will respond to the deep messages embedded in the fertile soil of Tokyo Digs A Garden." -- Midwest Book Review

Tokyo lives in a small house between giant buildings with his family and his cat, Kevin. For years, highways and skyscrapers have been built up around the family’s house where once there were hills and trees. Will they ever experience the natural world again?

One day, an old woman offers Tokyo seeds, telling him they will grow into whatever he wishes. Tokyo and his grandfather are astonished when the seeds grow into a forest so lush that it takes over the entire city overnight. Soon the whole city has gone wild, with animals roaming where cars once drove. But is this a problem to be surmounted, or a new way of living to be embraced?

With Tokyo Digs a Garden, Jon-Erik Lappano and Kellen Hatanaka have created a thoughtful and inspiring fable of environmentalism and imagination.