Tales From The Inner City

Tales From The Inner City

Tales from the Inner City is a collection of incredibly original stories, rich with feeling, strangely moving, almost numinous. And when the reader comes to the artwork, it?s like walking into an amazing room, and then throwing open a curtain to see a brilliant scene that makes you understand and appreciate everything you?ve encountered in a deeper way. From School Library Journal Gr 7 Up-As with most of Tan's books, this wonderfully eclectic and insightful follow-up to Tales of Outer Suburbia defies categorization. It is at once an art book, a collection of short stories, and an allegorical treatise on modern urban life, using various wild and domestic animals and their relationships with humankind as their focal point. The book opens with a spread of 25 silhouettes of various creatures highlighted within. The individual selections range from a couple of paragraphs to 10 pages or so, and each includes at least one glorious, two-page painting. The captivating stories are by turns smart, funny, tragic, wry, and often wise, if a bit trippy. Whether it's frogs in a board room, rhinos on the freeway, bears heavily lawyered-up for days in court, or orcas in the sky, these seemingly surreal scenarios allow readers to explore the behaviors of humankind and speculate about its possible future in the grand scheme of things. The 7 x 9-inch hardcover trim size may limit the audience of middle schoolers, but this is a volume to hold onto, dip into, reflect on, and interact with, providing limitless writing, art, and discussion prompts. VERDICT This is a thoughtful and inviting examination of some big questions, without professing to have all the answers. A distinctive artistic achievement that will be welcome in most libraries.-Luann Toth, School Library Journal?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review Praise for Tales from the Inner City * "The paintings . . . are characterized by layers of glorious color, shadowy corners, dazzling luminosity, surreal situations, and ethereal beauty. They invite lingering . . . Read and reread slowly, savoring every nugget." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review Praise for The Arrival A New York Times Best Illustrated Book * "Filled with both subtlety and grandeur, the book is a unique work that not only fulfills but also expands the potential of its form." -- Booklist, starred review * "An unashamed paean to the immigrant's spirit, tenacity and guts, perfectly crafted for maximum effect." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Few will remain unaffected by this timeless stunner." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review Praise for Tales from Outer Suburbia A New York Times Best Illustrated Book * "The thoughtful and engaged reader will take from these stories an experience as deep and profound as with anything he has ever read." -- Booklist, starred review * "Graphic-novel and text enthusiasts alike will be drawn to this breathtaking combination of words and images." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Tan's work overflows with human warmth and childlike wonder." -- New York Times Praise for Lost & Found: Three by Shaun Tan * "These stories representing the visionary work of a master storyteller, illustrator, and designer who cares deeply about his message deserve a place in almost every collection." -- Booklist, starred review " Shaun Tan rocks my retinas... The book is gorgeously designed, the stories are evocative and mysterious, and every page of Tan's paintings -- I can't bring myself to call them mere illustrations -- commands long moments of study." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer Praise for The Bird King: An Artist's Notebook * "The sharing of unfinished work is a generous gesture, and the collection is a treasure trove for any young artist who wants to know more about how ideas are captured on paper." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Unmistakable are his flawless craftsmanship, his organically industr