The Arrival

Finding the words to describe the work of plastic film loudness author and illustrator Shaun topaz can be difficult, but tending(p) Tans talent for visual communication, speechlessness seems an appropriate reaction. His unique ability to dumbfound the heart and soul of a story through images more than than proves the truth of the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

His new book, The Arrival, has 128 pages of sepia-toned, photo-realistic graphite drawings, which tell the story of a mans migration to a foreign place and his temporary separation from his family. The absence seizure of words, along with the mixture of surreal and real images, captures the mans plight abruptly; hes 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. Tans books, while marketed as childrens, tend to search quite complex issues. Yet they manage not to let go younger readers, rather challenging them to develop empathy and (perhaps more realistically) let out 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 characters gestures and facial expressions to understand how theyre feeling. The colours and slice of the images add layers of meaning and a palpable sense of the unbelief the characters are facing.
Whether a child is up to the challenge of Tans picture books is, of course, a decision for parents and teachers. But adults who dont wish to consider Tan for their childrens libraries should not assume his books wont fit into theirs. He is a smart artist and a great talent. But enough words. The pictures do the talkingIf you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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