Book Description: When a child awakens with dark leaves drifting into her bedroom, she feels that "sometimes the day begins with nothing to look forward to, and things go from bad to worse." Feelings too complex for words are rendered into an imaginary landscape where the child wanders, oblivious to the glimmer of promise in the shape of a tiny red leaf. Everything seems hopeless until the child returns to her room and sees the red tree. At that perfect moment of beauty and purity, the child smiles and her world stirs anew.
Shaun Tan's illustrations are remarkable for the way they combine and react upon each other. He creates an otherworldly labyinth of visual ideas joined with the familiar immediacy of the little child, and condenses them into scenes of extraordinary depth and insight. Every child will appreciate the book's life-affirming message but it will be equally successful with all readers. With sensitivity and wonder, the evocative images in The Red Tree open a window to our inexplicable emotions and tell a story about the power of hope, renewal and inspiration.
Amazing Illustrations. The Red Leaf is an exceptional picture book by Shaun Tan about hope. The illustrations are wonderful and although the concept of depression may hopefully be foreign to a child aged ten, the story, is accompanied by amazing pictures, provide young children with the opportunity to gain a greater meaning from the story from looking at the pictures. I definitely think it provides children with the opportunity for high level thinking.
I feel in love with this book. As too did my 5th graders.
Although a dark subject (depression) the pictures provide children with such stimulus that it's worth having in your child's home library.
And in the end, everything works out. I love this book.
Absolutely amazing story and pictures The Red Tree is what every one of us forgets at times. I am sure this story happens to all, and this book explains wonderfully and simply that there will be hard times and we must keep on. I believe it is important for children to understand that.
The illustration is gorgeous. The story reminds me of "Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey..." by Wordsworth:
These beauteous forms, Through a long absence, have not been to me As is a landscape to a blind man's eye; But oft, in lonely rooms, and 'mid the din Of towns and cities, I have owed to them, In hours of weariness, sensations sweet, Felt in the blood, and felt along the heart; And passing even into my purer mind, With tranquil restoration: -feelings too Of unremembered pleasure; such, perhaps, As have no slight or trivial influence On that best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered, acts Of kindness and of love.
Entering the darkness with hope I have found this an excellent book for myself on 'darker days'and to use with adults who may need some help to access painful or dark feelings, depression etc. The illustrations are particularly open-ended, offering imagery and symbol as a 'way in'. The text never 'gets in the way' and its sparseness is a gift...the story is within.
A piece of magic and inspiration for us all Shaun Tan has done it again with his beautiful detailed pictures, which convey more meaning that words ever can. This is a beautiful book that reaches out and grabs your heart and provides a glimmer of hope for anyone who has ever experienced feelings of hopelessess (and haven't we all?)
Wonderful Eveyone that loves illustrated books must own this book. It is spectacular! Wonderfully imaginative and beautifully rendered. Shaun Tan's style is unique and fantastically entertaining. To put it simply, if you're ready for something new and you love art, buy this book.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
