There are a few dark images in the book, so it's definitely for children old enough to have a conversation with an adult about why those images might be there. Beautifully illustrated with black and white photo realist illustrations, and infused with surreal elements, it has a dreamlike atmosphere in which nothing is what it seems, and domestic appliances and landscapes transform themselves into strange beasts.Ĭhildren and adults of all ages will be enchanted by this moving story, which is also a wonderful starting point for exploring themes of immigration, alienation and language in the classroom.įor younger readers, this is a book that will benefit from being read together with an adult who can explain what a refugee is or what it might feel like to find oneself in an alien country without knowing the language.

This classic, wordless graphic novel perfectly expresses what it means to leave your country and your family and start a new life in a new country. The story ends with his family joining him and a hopeful future ahead. We experience his journey, his struggles to communicate, find accommodation, a job and food, as well as following the stories of other immigrants.

This extraordinarily accomplished pieces of storytelling can be read and understood on many different levels.' - The Guardian You may also be interested in.In this unusual book, we follow a young man as he packs his bags and leaves his family to go and start a new life in another country. 'The reader's experience, as he or she tries to make sense of the unfamiliar scenes and strange images, parallels that of the emigrant, striving to understand without the aid of language. Here, everything is different: language, buildings, customs, food even the pets seem alien. 'It will fascinate and occupy adults and children alike' - The Observer This wordless picture book invites readers to explore a strange new world in the company of a migrant who must leave his family and everything he’s ever known to make the long and difficult journey to another land. 'Entirely wordless, but brimming with sounds and conversations in foreign tongues, Shaun Tan's book emanates the warmth of faded photographs.' - Craig Thompson, author of Blankets It's not often you see art of this quality, or a book that's so brave.' - Marjane Satrapi, author of Persepolis and Embroideries 'Tan's lovingly laid out and masterfully rendered tale about the immigrant experience is a documentary magically told by way of Surrealism.' - Art Spiegelman, author of Maus: A Survivor's Tale 'All ages respond to this moving picture book, a moving tribute to displaced people.' - The Sunday Times

The arrival tan shaun