After seventeen cheerless grey years, he retires without so much as a thank you. He is paid so little that he must sleep inside a wall at the office. He is bullied by those who see him as different, and they think cicada is stupid even though he’s never made a mistake. He is alone in a sea of cubicles, and he alone finishes his work after the humans leave for the day. Because cicada is not human, he’s not promoted or even allowed to use the bathroom. He has worked for seventeen years without any sick days. And cicada, who is given no other name, works as a data entry clerk in a grey cubicle.

It’s about a nameless city filled with grey skyscrapers. As Tan writes on the inside cover of the book, “Cicada tell story. Walking in Gagudju Country Exploring the Monsoon Forest by Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler, illustrated by Emma Long $30.00 inc.Shaun Tan creates another thoughtful, insightful, simple-yet-oh-so-complex picture book with “Cicada.” The plot, on one hand, is simple.How Aborigines Invented the Idea of Contemporary Art edited by Ian McClean $50.00 inc.Once Upon a Time in Papunya by Vivien Johnson $50.00 inc.

Molly the Pirate by Teece and Seden $18.00 inc.

Shaun has also worked as a theatre designer and a concept artist for the films Horton Hears a Who and Pixar’s WALL-E and in 2011, he shared an Academy Award for his work on the animated short film based on his book, The Lost Thing. In that same year, he won the Dromkeen Medal for services to children’s literature and the Astrid Lindgren prize, the world’s richest children’s literature award. His works include The Red Tree, The Lost Thing, Rules of Summer and the acclaimed wordless novel The Arrival. All have been widely translated throughout Europe, Asia and South America, and are enjoyed by readers of all ages. He began drawing and painting images for science fiction and horror stories in small-press magazines as a teenager, and has since become best known for illustrated books that deal with social, political and historical subjects through surreal, dream-like imagery. Shaun Tan grew up in Perth and graduated from the University of Western Australia with joint honours in Fine Arts and English Literature. I made several people read this yesterday and today. Transformation comes after many long years. Read more of Shaun Tan’s story about the inspiration and meaning of Cicada HERE.

Cicada tan shaun