Shaun Tan and The Red Tree
Speaking of picture books, I’ve been meaning to write about Shaun Tan*, a fabulous Australian illustrator whose work I was introduced to while helping out at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival.
I spent many festival hours volunteering at the on-site Readings bookstore, assisting with author signings. In between events, there was time to browse the books. We were set up near the kid’s section, where I discovered The Red Tree, a moving book for both children and adults first published in 2002. It is sad, but hopeful:
A nameless young girl appears in every picture, a stand-in for ourselves; she passes helplessly through many dark moments, yet ultimately finds something hopeful at the end of her journey.
I’ve just learned that the book now has a “soundtrack” of sorts. This month, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Gondwana Voices children’s choir has been touring Australia performing The Red Tree. The new composition is inspired by the book, but not actually meant to be a soundtrack — it is a response to Tan’s thought-provoking words and illustrations. Here’s more info about the project and a video that explains this unique collaboration:
*Tan’s latest book was released in Australia in June 2008. Tales from Outer Suburbia is a collection of “very short” illustrated stories “…about the mysteries that lurk below the surface of suburban life.”
