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    The Children's Book Review

    Tales Fom Outer Suburbia: Shaun Tan

    TCBR ContributorBy TCBR Contributor2 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Books with Boy Characters Brain Twisters Fantasy: Supernatural Fiction Graphic Novels Teens: Young Adults
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    By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
    Published: July 22, 2009

    Tales From Outer Suburbia Tales From Outer Suburbia

    by Shaun Tan

    Reading level: 12+

    Hardcover: 98 pages

    Publisher: Templar Publishing (March 2, 2009)

    What to expect: Suburbian life, Australia, Short stories, Fiction

    A poetic look at human nature through 15 imaginative and abstract tales that create a mysterious, yet philosophical, world.

    So profoundly intertwined are the text and illustrations that you could not have one without the other. Tan’s wonderous artwork is diverse — he has included paintings, pen and ink illustrations, and collages; he has used black-and white, and full-color — it’s hard not to get lost in each picture. If this book were ice-cream, every tale would be considered a different flavor; the adventurous, the insidious, and the sharp, will delight in every flavor. Strange happenings occur in everyday suburbia: surprise gifts are found in the pantry, joy is found in the unexpected, love and relationships are proven to survive with some hard work, we discover what comes of abandoned poetry, and we learn of great uses for intercontinental ballistic missiles (one of my favorite tales). Tales From Outer Suburbia is emotionally connected with peerless subtlety; children will be enlightened through each experience and left with an open mind. Adults who read along with their children are offered the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences. Magical, bizarre, and brilliant!

    Publisher’s synopsis: An exchange student who’s really an alien, a secret room that becomes the perfect place for a quick escape, a typical tale of grandfatherly exaggeration that is actually even more bizarre than he says… These are the odd details of everyday life that grow and take on an incredible life of their own in tales and illustrations that Shaun Tan’s many fans will love.

    You may also enjoy: Shaun Tan’s bestselling The Arrival.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Best Children’s Books of 2009 … Beyond the Half-Way Mark
    2. 5 Reasons to Love Dr. Seuss
    3. Sluggers: Loren Long & Phil Bildner
    4. Magickeepers: The Eternal Hourglass: Book One: Erica Kirov

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Shaun Tan
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    The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by one of TCBR's regular contributors.

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