Tan, Birdsell & Munsch

Spring break has arrived! I've added a few more books to the kid's section to keep them busy over the next couple of weeks. Jungle Jeep, Mortimer, and Medicine Wheel are board books great for the wee ones. Memorial, written by Gary Crew and illustrated by Shaun Tan, is an incredibly moving story "about a tree planted beside a war memorial monument, in a small country town by returned servicemen. Years on, the tree has grown to be huge and unruly, dislodging the statue next to it and creating a traffic hazard in what is now a much larger, busier town. A decision is made by a local council to cut the tree down." The book has garnered several awards for its story and design.

I was introduced to Tan's art at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2005. I was deeply moved by the sensitivity his illustrations convey. His work is timeless and appropriate for all ages. Memorial opens with this beautifully detailed illustration of a war veteran:

Memorial. Illustration by Shaun Tan.

If you enjoy Memorial, you might want to check out Tan's The Arrival and The Red Tree. These two books are absolutely amazing and I highly recommend them for children and adults. As I was perusing the web for resources on Tan, I found this animated interpretation of The Red Tree you might enjoy:



Thank you again for your donations to Skookum and have a wonderful week!

Cheers,

Jacqueline