The Lost Thing (2010), Shaun Tan's second book as both author and Illustrator, became one of the best-selling children's books in Australia. It's easy to see why. Embracing a beautiful melancholy, it relays the tale of a boy who discovers and befriends a strange creature separated from its own kind. Raising lots of subtle questions about who belongs in this country, the book invites you to lose yourself in both the words and the beautiful pictures.
Adapted into a short film narrated by Tim Minchin, which Tan co-directed with Andrew Ruhemann, it went on to win an Oscar. Other treasured books, including The Red Tree and The Arrival, only cemented tan's impact on Australia's literary scene for little folks.
Thanks to Sydney Opera House's From Our House to Yours digital platform, you and your kids can immerse yourself in some of that magic and get a sense of how it's all created.
It will host archival gold in this chat with Tan recorded at partner Arts Centre Melbourne last year. He delves into the meaning behind his stories, encouraging his readers to ask questions rather than reach conventional conclusions.
This article is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.
