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Art work was great. Really packed a punch for how small it was.
Complicated. This hybrid picture book/ teen book is just a bit creepy. As with Tan's other titles the illustrations are superb. The story is simple, humorous and creepy. Middle school aged tweens through adults will smile at the acrid humor, flinch at the hate, scan the amazing artwork, especially the end papers, with awe and try to figure out where this book belongs. Let me help... it belongs in your personal library! Just don't ask me to tell you how to categorize it!
Blistering allegory, gorgeous art, and one of the greatest burns dropped on modern society.
Take this book into your homes, your classrooms, and your hearts. It's a short read, but one mighty long think afterwards.
Take this book into your homes, your classrooms, and your hearts. It's a short read, but one mighty long think afterwards.
Illustrations are beautiful. The story is simple. But I am not certain that this will translate to any reader other than an adult reader. Professional purchasing/review resources are listing reading range as either "age 12 and up" or "grades 6 and up" ... and I am not certain that they will have a knowledge base that allows for them to make inferences needed to make this story as impactful as it can be. That aside, I am down for more of these types of graphic-novel-but-not and picture-book-for-older-readers types of stories ... I think they fill a void in collection development that will be interesting to library patrons.
Shaun Tan has long been on of my favourite artists, and I adore his books. I have a vague recollection of him coming to a Primary School event of mine and reading his lovely book The Red Tree to me and my classmates, but that could have been some strange dream. Though he did used to live really nearby to my house...
Anyway, Tan manages once again to completely rip open my heart and then give it back to me with a tiny little piece of hope to mend it, like using kintsugi on a bowl or cup. I don't really want to say much about the story, because the synopsis does a pretty good job, I just urge you to have a read and then have a think about what Tan could be addressing, what it all means, and maybe to swoon over his art. At least a little.
Highly recommended (but not for kids, I don't think... more for adults this one. Tok Tok Tok!)
[I received a review copy of this book from Hachette in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!!]
Anyway, Tan manages once again to completely rip open my heart and then give it back to me with a tiny little piece of hope to mend it, like using kintsugi on a bowl or cup. I don't really want to say much about the story, because the synopsis does a pretty good job, I just urge you to have a read and then have a think about what Tan could be addressing, what it all means, and maybe to swoon over his art. At least a little.
Highly recommended (but not for kids, I don't think... more for adults this one. Tok Tok Tok!)
[I received a review copy of this book from Hachette in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!!]
This book is recommended if you're 6 years or older (in Sweden, at least), but it's a book for all ages. It's for everyone who ever felt unappreciated and invisible.
There's not a lot of text, but as usual the pictures speak volumes!
There's not a lot of text, but as usual the pictures speak volumes!