Review: The Red Tree by Shaun Tan
A small child awakes to find blackened leaves falling from her bedroom ceiling, threatening to quietly overwhelm her. ‘Sometimes you wake up with nothing to look forward to…’ As she wanders around a world that is complex, puzzling and alienating, she is overtaken by a myriad of feelings.
Just as it seems all hope is lost, the girl returns to her bedroom to find that a tiny red seedling has grown to fill the room with warm light.
- Publisher’s Blurb.
This was my first read for last weekend’s readathon, and it was a perfect one to start with! Short. Moving, and Beautifully illustrated.
It’s a case of pictures saying more that words are able to, with each scene movingly depicting, the main characters feelings of isolation and despair as her day progresses, with short tag-lines and sentences really only there to guide. It is the artwork that does most of the work.
Especially so at the end, when no words are needed to explain that even amongst all that despair, there is hope, and something to look forward to, if you look for it.
Rating: 
Other Reviews to Consider.
Buy, The Red Tree by Shaun Tan from The Book Depository.
Have you read this one? What were your thoughts?
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This sounds like a beautiful book. I’m off to Borders with a 40% off coupon and I’m thinking I might pick up one of Tan’s books. I’m not sure which one, though.
Oooh… Money off vouchers and books… Sounds like a dangerous combination!
I love this book! I read it back in pre-blogging days, I think
It’s a fab book!
I loved this when I had it from the library and was loathe to give it back, I keep meaning to get my own copy.
I love how the pictures have to much detail and create such a sense of emotion, I often use them as a starting point for creative writing in class, especially the one above and the one with the little girl onstage
I was very happy it was my own copy! I can see myself pulling it out at random whenever I’m browsing my shelves!
I love reading Shaun Tan’s books. The art is so complex and beautiful and yet tells the story elegantly and fluently.
It’s my first time with his work, and I’m very impressed!
Wow!! I just clicked through to Stuff as Dreams are Made on — I’m not sure how I missed this post, but the illustrations are stunning. Now I’m going to have to buy some books (oh darn)
Ooops!
This is one of my favorite Shaun Tan books. It spoke to me so deeply the first time I read it and still does whenever I pull it off the shelf. I work in the mental health field and when I first got it I was passing it around to all the therapists and they were really getting into it as well. In addition to the emotional reaction I had to it, I love the art, the colors he chose…I love the fact that there is a little red leaf on every page, some easier to find than others. It is just such a complete package as far as children’s books go.
If you haven’t read his more recent illustrated story book, Tales from Outer Suburbia, I highly recommend it.