Tin Can is a children’s adventure story written and illustrated by Chris Censullo. Sam is a little girl who has a tree house that she loves to play and read comics in, but she really would like a friend. One night, when she sees a falling star, she makes a wish for a friend. It wasn’t really a star that she saw in the night sky, however, it was a rocket ship that crash landed in a salvage yard. A robot’s head bounced out of the wrecked ship and made a lot of noise as it rolled away. The junk man came out to investigate and saw what he thought was just a tin can. He decided he’d wait until the morning to clean up the mess, but while he was gone, some friendly mice came to investigate the robot. He was scared and not happy to be in pieces, but the mice put him back together with parts from the junkyard. The robot had heard the junk man refer to him as a tin can, and that was what he called himself when he met Sam the next morning. Sam was thrilled to meet her new friend, and the two quickly ran away from the junk man who wanted to keep Tin Can. The two friends and their mice companions find Sam’s tree house to be a perfect place to begin their adventure.

Chris Censullo’s children’s adventure tale, Tin Can, had me smiling as I read it. Censullo’s artwork is inspired and fits the mood of the story perfectly. Each panel is filled with action and images that are so expressive you almost don’t need the words, but the combined effect of the art and the words is sheer magic. I loved looking at the expressions on the faces of Sam, the junk man, Tin Can and the mice -- they really make the story and those characters come to life. This is one of those rare and special storybooks that will delight adults as much as the children for whom it was written. If you don’t have or know of a child to read this book to, you might just want to get it for yourself and then find someone of any age to share it with. Tin Can is most highly recommended.

Tin Can by Chris Censullo is a short and cute children’s story book about a robot and a small girl. Sam is a little girl who one day, as she is gazing outside her window at the night sky, wishes that she would find a friend on a shooting star. As if her wish is heard, a shooting star does come flying to earth, but instead of a star, it is actually a small robot. As he lands, he crashes and splits apart. A man comes by, takes a look at it, and calls it a tin can that he will come back and pick up tomorrow as junk. In the meantime, some mice who notice the robot help him put his body back together. Sam comes across them and immediately adopts the robot as her friend. The next day, as the junkyard man comes by again to pick up his tin can, Sam and the Tin Can run for it and help each other to escape and find shelter in a tree. This is a beautiful story about how home is where the heart is, and the bond of friendship and belonging.

Tin Can by Chris Censullo is a very short story that can be easily read aloud to children or children can read by themselves. I loved the message in the end and the way Tin Can adopts his new name as well as finding friendship and love in his new home. The sense of belonging he gets is beautifully portrayed. I also loved the pictures and illustrations in the book. Overall, Tin Can by Chris Censullo is a great children’s book which provides a meaningful message through a simple and sweet story.