Synopses & Reviews
A boy scavenges the beach for his bottle top collection when he discovers a lost "thing"; a large, freakish creature that looks like a cross between a crab and a pot-bellied stove. Thus begins a witty and strange narrative set in a creepy, futuristic environment.
Shaun Tan's artwork, collages comprised of such unusual elements as old textbook pages, oil paint, gears, and tubes, inspires young readers to figure out what goes where, and why, in this challenging mix of science fiction and puzzle book.
Review
"Tan's illustrations offer playful tributes that could serve as introductions to such artists as Miró, Duchamp, Dalí, Kandinski, Hopper, John Brack, and Jeffrey Smart....[A] singular talent." School Library Journal
Review
"[T]he mix of familiarity and strangeness...will pull readers into a tantalizingly different world." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Award-winning artist and author Shaun Tan has achieved international recognition for his work. A graduate of the University of Washington in 1995, with honors in fine arts and English literature, he lives in Perth, Australia.