With his many award-winning books in recent years, Shaun Tan is fast becoming the major exponent of the intellectual picture book in this country. He has taken the picture book form to new heights with his innovative ideas in text, layout and illustration, and this latest book is no exception. At first glance, this book appears simple, but it is not long before the reader is drawn into the philosophical world of Tan's compelling images. Reminiscent of The Little Prince, the Red Tree becomes a symbol of beauty and hope in a world that is otherwise puzzling and unfathomable. Every page is full of detailed drawings which invite close examination - there is another world behind the simple observations of the text, a dark and deep contemplation of the difficulties that face everyone in an ordinary day. But in the end there is resolution, `quietly waiting, just as you imagined it would be'. This is a picture book that functions on a number of levels and will be appreciated by readers of many ages. It is breathtaking in both its simplicity and its complication, and each reader will bring their own interpretation to the challenging world of Shaun Tan.

Catherine McLellan is a former children's bookseller, now working at Lateral Learning organising speakers for schools. 

C. 2001 Thorpe-Bowker and contributors

Tags: shaun tan