Rules of Summer

The multi-layered illustrations are glorious… this is a strange, thought-provoking and enlightening book. Irish Independent Pure magic… told with minimal text and the beautiful surreal imagery of Tan’s paintings. I would be quite happy to give this book ten stars out of five if that were allowed. Simply unmissable for readers who seek out unique and thought provoking books. When the children outgrow this, I will be keeping it for myself. * * * * * Bookbag A mesmerising addition to Shaun Tan’s eclectic array of thoughtful and surreal picture books… breathtaking. WRD Magazine Shaun Tan has earned the reputation as the creator of picture books that defy easy interpretation… enigmatic verbal and visual clues to construct narratives… lovingly detailed painterly illustration… starkly realistic and elusively surreal. Irish Times Shaun Tan continues to push out the boundaries of the picturebook medium… whichever way you look at it, this is an extraordinary picturebook, an aesthetic abject, with much to enjoy, respond to, think and talk about. School Librarian Visually fascinating. The New York Times Tan’s mesmerizing, gorgeous art is as beautiful and entrancing as ever. Booklist Superb artwork that elicits both a cerebral and emotional response and that, when coupled with the text, invites readers to plumb the mysterious depths of the human experience. The Horn Book Thrilling… one startling image after another. Wall Street Journal Evocative, enthralling and with absolutely astounding artwork so good readers will wish that ike summer, it would last forever. Kirkus Sumptuous and sincere… this title is a winner. School Library Journal Brilliant… as always, the swirl of emotion that Tan’s artwork kicks up lingers long after the book is closed. Publishers Weekly Magnificent. Big, confident and blazing with colour. Sydney Morning Herald Beguiling, magical, vivid, sumptuous. Tan’s open-ended tales invariably suggest possibilities beyond the frame, creating an imaginative space for readers to inhabit the stories. The Australian Lavish, brilliant paintings…As always, the swirl of emotion that Tan’s artwork kicks up lingers long after the book is closed. Publisher’s Weekly Magnificent…big, confident and blazing with colour The Sydney Morning Herald Thrilling, disturbing and hard to shake…one startling image after another Wall Street Journal

Shaun Tan’s award-winning books include the highly acclaimed wordless novel THE ARRIVAL, THE LOST THING, THE RED TREE, THE RABBITS and TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA.

In 2011, Shaun won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, shared an Academy Award for his work on the animated short film version of his book THE LOST THING, and was presented with the Dromkeen Medal for services to children’s literature in Australia.

Shaun has also worked as a theatre designer, as a concept artist for the films Horton Hears a Who and Pixar’s WALL-E and as an animator on the Academy Award-winning short film adapted from his book THE LOST THING. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages and have won many prizes both in Australia and internationally.