SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

November 16, 2007 by Betsy Bird

Reporting: Shaun Tan Shindigs (Part Two)

November 16, 2007 by Betsy Bird   1 comments


(CONTINUED FROM PART ONE)

As for the design of The Arrival, Mr. Tan had this to say, "Everyone’s made a picture book before and it’s called a photo album."  Mr. Tan’s own photo albums were certainly an influence on his work.  Due to the fact that The Arrival is a tale of immigration, Tan was able to look to his own family members for help and guidance.  His father immigrated to Australia from Malaysia before Shaun was born, and his partner is a Finnish immigrant too.  Later in the evening, my husband and I discussed the book with Scholastic’s John Mason, and my mate had some good points.  He said that sometimes a graphic novel will break down the images into their simplest forms so that the can be considered "universal" and easy to understand by all audiences.  What Shaun Tan has done, however, is precisely the opposite.  He complicates matters, and makes them difficult for everyone to understand and THAT is why everybody can read the book and understand it.  Our confusion is intentional and shared by everyone else we know.  How brilliant is that?

There are reoccurring images in the book, like nests (birds being animals that constantly emigrate).  I didn’t really realize how true this was until I had a chance to reread the book myself.  And the language in The Arrival turned out to be cut up Times New Roman letters, rearranged on a page!  Fancy that!

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

After his speech was done I didn’t get a chance to ask Mr. Tan any more questions, but that was okay.  He was going to be speaking at the Donnell Lit Cafe that Saturday anyway, and I’d see him then.  Fast forward to last Saturday and sure enough, Mr. Tan was there.  He was there and he was a smash hit.  We got a perfect amount of people (not too many, not too few) and he was gracious and signed books for everyone who came.  Whatta guy!  I wasn’t able to hear his second speech, but from what I am given to understand it was basically the same stuff.  Afterwards I was able to grill him a little more on his plans and where he was headed next.

Ironically, Mr. Tan never had a chance to go to Ellis Island while he was in New York.  His scheduling simply didn’t permit it, which is really too bad.  I’m not a native New Yorker, and I found Ellis Island far more fascinating than I’d expected when I visited it a couple years ago.

In any case, the man is a true class act.  Two thumbs way way up over here. 

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

The Top Ten Most Disappointing Edibles and Potables of Children's Literature

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Announcing the 2023 Newbery/Caldecott/YMA Pre-Game Show!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#184)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Announcing the 2022 Winners of the Annual Blueberry Literary Award!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Nat the Cat Takes a Nap

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Here Be Monsters: On Horror, Catharsis, and Uneasy Truces with Yourself, a guest post by author Rebecca Mahoney

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Newbery Medalist Amina Luqman-Dawson visits The Yarn

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Apple Arcade Offers Educators Options | Tech Review

22 Audiobooks Inspired by Fairy Tales and Mythology

Top 10 Family Music Albums from 2020 and 2021

Delectable Dramas for Teens Tuned into the 'Gossip Girl' Reboot | Read-Alikes

'Big Nate' on the Small Screen | TV Review

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josephine says

    November 16, 2007 at 6:52 am

    Great post…thanks! I just picked up “The Arrival” this week and was totally blown away. It’s amazing how much the world he creates puts you right in the main character’s shoes. Your husband put it *very* well!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023