Customer Reviews

Red Tree

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Having gazed in awe for hours over Shaun Tan's previous books (which could be simply 'read' in minutes), I have been drawn to giggles, tears and several art-history references.

Shaun's tackled a difficult subject here in childhood depression. He's managed to handle it in such a way that kids who have just had a bad 'moment', and kids that are really having a terrible extended period of time, will not feel alone in their sadness and problems, and will ultimately, hopefully, feel uplifted.

Shauns words and images do not talk down to kids in any way. The images are mostly complex, dark, brooding - and filled with enough detail to entrance on many repeat readings.
His settings are otherworldly enough to keep up the sense of mystery and distance, but familiar enough to have the reader feel connected with the central figure - a little girl who is sad, feeling left-out and confused.
For young children, It's probably a book best kept for one of those 'moments', and read with an understanding parent or older friend.
For older kids and adults, it's a great book for a cheer-up on a bad day.
...and for anyone with an appreciation of art, get this and the rest of Shaun's back-catalogue - in hardback if you can, and treasure them.

Title: The Red Tree
Author: Shaun Tan
Type: fiction/non-fiction
Publisher: Lothian, November 2002

The Red Tree is a masterpiece that uses vibrant colored pictures of intense meaning to take readers on an emotional journey with the red haired girl who appears throughout the book. As the main character she is depicted wandering through numerous imaginary and dreamlike, landscape portraying hopelessness and isolation.

A small child awakes to discover blackness leaves falling from her bedroom ceiling, threatening to silently engulf her. As she wanders around a world that is intricate and puzzling she is overtaken by numerous feelings. The girl is overwhelmed by feelings of despair and sadness. The minimal text on each page conveys feelings and thoughts that accompany childhood depression. The simple and poetic text also communicates complicated themes such as the search for identity, escape from a confined space and lack of control of one's feelings.

When the girl returns to her bedroom at the end of the day, the red leaf is on the floor quietly waiting for her. When readers turn the page, the red leaf has blossomed into a red tree that is full of light and hope. The girl smiles and readers are reminded of the power of hope. Everything seemed hopeless until the child returns to her room to see the red tree. At that moment the child smiles and the beauty and purity of infancy is radiated.

The red leaf in each of Shaun Tan's visual works of art is symbolic as it represents hope, even in the darkest moments of despair and loneliness. The elaborate detail in Tan's illustrations is fascinating and demands close analysis and multiple viewings as much of the artwork in the book summarizes delicate imagery. Tan also uses colour to convey meaning in the final pages, as the red is the predominating colour symbolizing prosperity and happiness.

The book puts forward the idea that childhood depression is an illness that is never without hope. It shows that hope is always there, just like the tiny red leaf that is present throughout the book, even though the girl is oblivious to the glimmer of promise in the shape of a tiny red leaf in the end she finds it. Although the book is quite detailed it leaves out both the causes of the characters state and the influences that are encouraging this constant behaviour of isolation and sadness.

The author of the book The Red Tree puts forward his opinions on childhood depression and the feelings that are accompanied with it as well as the fact that hope is always there. I totally agree with Tan's opinions because I think that they are truly precise and realistic. I believe that hope is always present; we just need to recognize it for it to blossom.

The Red Tree is a fascinating and sophisticated picture book about a sensitive issue that is often ignored in children's literature. The picture book is one that is very interesting and memorable as it stays with people ceaselessly. The Red Tree is a book that I highly recommend for adults. Feelings too complex for words are rendered into an imaginary landscape where the child wanders. It is a compelling story about the power of hope, renewal and inspiration.

Written and illustrated by award-winning artist and author Shaun Tan, The Red Tree is the story of a young girl who feels that sometimes days begin with nothing good to look forward to, and downwardly progresses from worse to even worse. She wanders an imaginary and surreal dreamscape of cold and misery, yet there is a curious red leaf which leads her to remember a bright possibility of purity and good things, both here and to come. Richly and imaginatively illustrated, The Red Tree is a thought-provoking, entertaining picture book for children that carries an ultimate message of hope.

As someone who has anxiety and chronic depression, the pictures in this book express the reality of my feelings. I can now open up to a certain page and tell my husband, "I feel just like this picture," and he begins to understand. The pictures portray feelings and emotions superbly. The text helps a bit by getting your mind thinking about what emotions are being shown in the illustration. If you are someone with depression, or know someone with depression, this book can help with the communication that words sometimes can't explain.

What a tremendous book ... although it's right to expect something truly special from Australia's best picture book illustrator.

The text of the book is deceptively simple, and perfectly economical. Its true power is revealled by the images, which are haunting and unforgettable. Although feelings of depression and loneliness strike us all, Tan has found a note-perfect way to depict complex and dark emotions. I've heard (and used) many analogies for the darkness that accompanies depression, but when you see Tan's images, everything else will fall short.

So with such themes of darkness, does the book soar? Definitely! The conclusion is unaffected and uplifting, reminiscent of the Australian writer and illustrator Michael Leunig.

I cannot, in all honesty, think of any life, at any age, that would not be enriched by this simple, lyrical and moving book. Highly recommended.

The book `The Red Tree' by Shaun Tan is a fascinating picture book that takes an interesting approach towards the issue of depression, and also the issue of hope.

This amazingly, detailed book enables the reader to delve into the thoughts of a young girl's mind as she awakens one day to find dark leaves falling in her bedroom, the reader then follows the girl as she wanders an overwhelming world full of puzzling, alienating, and often difficult situations the girl is involved in, the young girl then returns home feeling all hope is lost to find a tiny red seedling that is emitting a red warmth that enlightens her soul. Throughout the book the young girl is accompanied by a small red leaf, that only the reader can see, this leaf reveals to us that the young girl, even though she feels alienated, is not alone and there is hope if she just seeks it. . This book is remarkable in a way that it expresses feelings that can only be shown through pictures, the series of imaginary landscapes and places in the book defiantly achieve these emotions, and it is evident that the marvelous and craftiness mind of Shaun Tan was responsible for these miraculous images.

The pictures that Shaun Tan publishes in this book are achieved by using gouache, oil, watercolors and through collages as well. The pictures are not only done with the smallest detail but are painted with emotive colours to bring out the feelings the young girl is experiencing. Every page has yet another imaginary, dreamlike landscape that convey a message that is revealed through the minimal text on the double spread page, these texts convey feelings of, misery, hopelessness and most important of all depression, in which Shaun Tan takes a daring approach towards seeing as though it is a sensitive issue, that isn't explored very much in children's literature.


This book is the best I have read, the pictures were spectacular, the text carefully written in a short but memorable way, however it does only appeal to certain people, but if you are looking for a book that isn't afraid to introduce a topic not so often raised, and also has magnificent pictures that convey emotions in the most unique way, then this is defiantly for you, you will not be disappointed. This book receives two thumbs up from me; if you do have the privilege to read it you will see why it did win best picture book of the year in 2002. The Red Tree reminds all of us that even though we may suffer negative feelings, there is always hope at the end of the long journey, and it will always accompany us in the darkest of times.

The Red Tree by Shaun Tan is a magnificent fictional book that is aimed for readers aged 11 and older. The story is about a young girl overcome with feelings of sadness and despair, searching for hope in her life. The theme of the story book is depression and its dark consequences.

The images used in this story book are absolutely sensational. The double-page spreads articulate the hopelessness, anxiety and fear that go with depression. Each sumptuous spread follows the girl through outrageously imagined, nightmarish landscapes that help readers to sense the character's actions and emotions.

The text is quite minimal and only a few words are found on each page. They vary in size depending on the significance of the words. Descriptive words such as "deaf" and "troubles" are made larger and bolder than other words.

Even though this picture book is extremely good, it has many aspects in which I both liked and disliked.
The aspects that I loved most were that The Red Tree is a very creative, colourful and touching book that is enjoyable to read and study. It does an exceptional job of holding my attention on examining the images and helps me to find the true meaning that lies within them.
Some of the aspects that I did not enjoy much, were that the book is quite depressing and isn't suitable for children. Both the images and texts make you empathize with the character, therefore giving you no choice but to feel what the girl is feeling (sad and down).

Overall I have enjoyed reading and studying The Red Tree extremely, as it is a great story with eye-catching and meaningful illustrations, which helps to keep the reader interested until the last sentence. I recommend this wonderful book for all readers who are interested in enthralling fantasies, which obtain dark fears and depression's shocking power.

The book The Red Tree by Shaun Tan, published by Lotian Books, is a fictional picture book that explores the many themes of searching, feeling lost, depression and hope. The Red Tree sees the journey of the main character's search for hope in a word that is not always a friendly place.
The story is told through the amazing illustrations that follow the character's search for hope throughout the book. The use of different art techniques and the additional details in the book help readers empathize with the character's feelings of confusion, being lost and feeling overwhelmed in her search for the red tree, as the title tells readers.
The book The Red Tree contains extremely detailed illustrations it is a memorable and enlightening story. The story makes readers feel that nothing will ever turn out right for the character until quite a sudden turn in the story. The author's exploration of depression could be quite relative to many readers with the atmosphere created by the colors, textures and the symbolic meaning of the illustrations.
However, the author Tan does not explore all factors of depression. He does not include the affects of depression on outsiders, that is; people other than the sufferer themselves. Also, I feel that the author's exploration of the theme is rather clichéd. It did not open up new understanding of depression to me nor did I feel differently about depression being a short sufferer of it myself. Even though I feel the themes are not very creative, at the same time, as mentioned before, I can relate extremely to the character, with great assistance from Shaun Tan's amazingly detailed illustrations and use of many different art techniques to create such a profound effect.
In conclusion, I think that the story itself is not anything special but the images; with close analysis will make readers truly appreciate this book. I recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation for art and the meanings of the images.

The award winning achievement by Shaun Tan is his fifth work to date and has gained many enthusiastic readings through Lothian Books. This clever and deeply meaningful fictitious piece is a picture book aimed at children, yet the adult mind can comprehend its intensity and power on a different level if one has the initiative to look deeper. It is a book that appears to be simple. The child mind is recognised and appreciated in this book as one that can be as difficult and important as an adults'. Shaun Tan uses a myriad of artistic techniques, including collages, painting, crayon and textures to create powerful images that lead the reader through an exploration of mixed emotions. With bright colours and captivating styles, the child who picks up this book will certainly be intrigued, yet the adult who looks for more exploration in picking up this book themselves will be no less interested or compelled by Shaun Tan's amazing skills.

"The Red Tree" is a story that follows the life of a little lost girl who feels a certain sadness, loneliness and depression that adults can relate to in their busy daily lifestyles, and which children can understand as alike to the confusions of their young lives. Abstract concepts and simple single-line sentences that accompany and somewhat simplify the richly layered pictures show the slow expedition the little girl takes to find her happiness and sense of purpose again.

A memorable book for its ability to take a straightforward tale and weave it into a masterpiece of dynamics and fantastical extremes, the author expresses generally that one can always find happiness again, no matter what the difficulties may be. Though this is not true in all real-life cases, it is an excellent moral for children to build on, and one example of hope that older readers would do well to appreciate. This adds to the feeling of satisfaction the reader experiences at the last page, and which I highly agree with for a children's picture book. The book fails to address the girl's reasons for depression, or what she is exactly looking for as she wanders the city, however, this seems to matter little. Trivial curiosities like her age or situation in life are not of priority. The book concentrates upon her mental confusions and search for understanding. A read-through of other similar works, such as "The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base (Official site at http://www.graemebase.com/Home.cfm) supports the recognition that fine details can add an entirely new concept onto a piece of text, despite what it may offer on a superficial level. The abstract pictures leave allowances for readers to adapt the books' issues to relate to their own lives. I felt highly empathetic towards the girls' confusion and despair. On the other hand, a younger child might fully relate to the girls' loneliness.

"The Red Tree" by Shaun Tan is a marvellous piece of creative work that incorporates many artistic skills and visual achievements, explores issues to a profound level and is suitable for a wide range of ages. I recommend that older readers invite a child to join them in reading this book, and allow them the chance to discover hidden details and meanings for themselves. The audience will find that individuals' opinions will change over time. To survey a child's reactions to "The Red Tree" and compare them to those of an adult would be an interesting and rewarding experience.

...and everything in between! I write and publish picture books, so I look at the quality of the book from every angle. Not only is it a touching message, but the simple text along with the complex and piercing illustrations takes your breath away. I have a rapport with the book buyer at my local independent store and when I walked in, she just handed me "The Red Tree" and said, "You have to read this." She was right. I've read it many times and each of the many people I've shown it to has been awed. I wouldn't just give this book to any ol' kid, but many sensitive children would treasure this book forever...and it would make a particularly nice gift for an adult, too!