Eric /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Arrival When a foreign exchange student comes to live with a typical suburban family, he brings with him a boundless sense of curiosity -- and a stream of unexpected questions (which his hosts are never quite sure how to answer). But when the moment comes to say good-bye, a beautiful surprise awaits, and a gift the family will never forget.This new stand-alone edition of one of Shaun Tan's most beloved and inviting stories is perfect for sharing with readers of all ages who appreciate stories of wonder, exploration, and life's everyday mysteries.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

Ever sensitive to the outsider, Tan examines a diminutive foreign exchange student's visit through the consternation of his hosts. With a thin, triangular body, spindly appendages, and a head reminiscent of a maple leaf, Eric exudes vulnerability when strapped into a car with a seat belt or peering into an elephant's cage. His dark-gray form contrasts with the lighter settings in the square panels--one or more to a page--rendered in graphite. The narrator and Mum are not depicted. This story originally appeared in Tan's Tales From Outer Suburbia (2009). The few changes relate to picture-book pacing: Longer sentences are split to accompany single images; new art and visual tweaks invite slow reflection. Curious and confounding, Eric draws a sink's drain as a flower (paired with a question mark) and abandons his bedroom for a teacup in the pantry. Such decisions are chalked up to "a cultural thing" by Mum, who only wants him to be happy. When Eric departs, the narrator is bewildered, but readers are then invited to view the pantry for what is "still there after all these years, thriving in the darkness." Colored pencils create a marvelous array of flowers arising from "small things" Eric had collected, a rainbow-hued thank-you note nestled inside the cup and a familiar shadow on the saucer. Tan's singular imagination invokes appreciation for the imprint that lingers from someone special, even after separation. (Picture book. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Shaun Tan was born in 1974 in Fremantle, Western Australia. He is an artist, writer, and film maker. In 2006, his wordless graphic novel The Arrival won the "Book of the Year" prize as part of the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards. The same book won the Children's Book Council of Australia "Picture Book of the Year" award in 2007 and the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Premier's Prize in 2006. For his career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" Tan won the 2011 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council, the biggest prize in children's literature. In 2015 his title, Rules of Summer, was one of four books selected for the United States Board of Books for Young People list of Outstanding International Books for children and young adults. His book, The Singing Bones, won the 2015 Aurealis Awards for Best Graphic Novel/Illustrated work. He had two books published in 2018, Cicada. and Tales From the Inner City

(Bowker Author Biography)