The Arrival

With this haunting, wordless sequence about a lonely emigrant in a bewildering city, Tan … finds in the graphic novel format an ideal outlet for his sublime imagination…. few will remain unaffected by this timeless stunner. - Publishers Weekly (USA)

His unique ability to capture the heart and soul of a story through images more than proves the truth of the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. - The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

It is a magnificent and timely story of hope and persistence: deeply moving, disturbing and, at the same time, infused with quiet joy and a grand, buoyant openness to experience. - The Monthly (Australia)

An imaginative triumph, and every home should have one. - The Times (UK)

Filled with both subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfils but also expands the potential of its form. - Booklist (USA)

an unashamed paean to the immigrant’s spirit, tenacity and guts, perfectly crafted for maximum effect. - Kirkus Reviews (USA)

a remarkable and skilful work of art - The Sunday Times (UK)

This book should be ‘read’ by adults and children alike. It’s astonishing. - The Bookseller (UK)

Shaun Tan was born in 1974 and grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. In school he became known as the ‘good drawer’ which partly compensated for always being the shortest kid in every class. He graduated from the University of WA in 1995 with joint honours in Fine Arts and English Literature, and currently works full time as a freelance artist and author in Melbourne.

Shaun began drawing and painting images for science fiction and horror stories in small-press magazines as a teenager, and has since become best known for illustrated books that deal with social, political and historical subjects through surreal, dream-like imagery. Books such as The Rabbits , The Red Tree, The Lost Thing and the acclaimed wordless novel The Arrival have been widely translated throughout Europe, Asia and South America, and enjoyed by readers of all ages. Shaun has also worked as a theatre designer, and worked as a concept artist for the films Horton Hears a Who and Pixar’s WALL-E. He is currently directing a short film with Passion Pictures Australia; his most recently published book is Tales from Outer Suburbia.

Shaun is the winner of the 2011 Astrid Lindgren prize, the world’s richest children’s literature award. The award described Shaun as ‘a masterly visually storyteller’.

The Lost Thing animation recently won an Oscar for the best animated short film.