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By Shaun Tan
Finding the words to describe the work of picture book author and illustrator Shaun Tan can be difficult, but given Tan's talent for visual communication, speechlessness seems an appropriate reaction. 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.
His book, The Arrival, has 128 pages of sepia-toned, photo-realistic pencil drawings, which tell the story of a man's migration to a foreign place and his temporary separation from his family. The absence of words, along with the mixture of surreal and real images, captures the man's plight perfectly; he's in a new place where most things, including food, animals and language, are incomprehensible.
As far as picture books go, The Arrival is a spectacular anomaly, as is its creator. Tan's book, while marketed as children's, explores quite complex issues. It challenges the reader to develop empathy and better visual literacy skills.
The latter is particularly pertinent here, as readers must interpret the story exclusively through image, from following the series of events, to using a character's gestures and facial expressions to understand how they're feeling. The colours and composition of the images add layers of meaning and a palpable sense of the uncertainty the characters are facing.
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