By its nature, the book invites a slow and thoughtful exploration – the lack of words being a stimulus for the reader to create multiple layers of stories and meanings. It appeals strongly to upper KS2 children, who often respond with startling insight and maturity to its themes. The Arrival deals with some pretty big questions and is far from being a childish story. By the time our traveller’s family is able to join him, we know that they’ll be happy in this new place.

But the city’s inhabitants have their own stories to tell and everyone helps out.

Seeing this world through the traveller’s eyes, we are as confused as he is. Here, everything is different: language, buildings, customs, food – even the pets seem alien. If you’re looking for a book to inspire creative writing and artwork with upper KS2 children, then why not try The Arrivalby Australian illustrator, Shaun Tan? This wordless picture book invites readers to explore a strange new world in the company of a migrant who must leave his family and everything he’s ever known to make the long and difficult journey to another land. There are a few dark images in the book, so it's definitely for children old enough to have a conversation with an adult about why those images might be there.What emotions will your class experience and what debates will emerge as they explore a strange new world through the eyes of a migrant in

Beautifully illustrated with black and white photo realist illustrations, and infused with surreal elements, it has a dreamlike atmosphere in which nothing is what it seems, and domestic appliances and landscapes transform themselves into strange beasts.Ĭhildren and adults of all ages will be enchanted by this moving story, which is also a wonderful starting point for exploring themes of immigration, alienation and language in the classroom.įor younger readers, this is a book that will benefit from being read together with an adult who can explain what a refugee is or what it might feel like to find oneself in an alien country without knowing the language. This classic, wordless graphic novel perfectly expresses what it means to leave your country and your family and start a new life in a new country. The story ends with his family joining him and a hopeful future ahead. We experience his journey, his struggles to communicate, find accommodation, a job and food, as well as following the stories of other immigrants. In this unusual book, we follow a young man as he packs his bags and leaves his family to go and start a new life in another country.

The arrival tan shaun