‘With sensitivity and wonder, Shaun Tan’s evocative words and images in the multi-award-winning ‘The Red Tree’ open a window to our inexplicable emotions and tell a story about the power of hope, renewal and inspiration.’
Over the years, I’ve been amazed at the conversations which have opened up as a result of sharing this book with children. My most poignant memories are from sharing it with a small group of Year 5 boys in 2017/18, and with a Year 5 class in 2020/21.
When I recorded myself reading the book recently, I deliberately avoided asking questions, or adding my own thoughts, and I only read the words on each page. My pauses were also deliberate. I’ve learned that a pause can serve as an invitation for children to share their observations and their thoughts, which often leads to deeper and more authentic interactions.
This evening, as I posted the video on YouTube I was thinking about a Ukrainian friend. I had arranged to meet her in my lunch hour today, in order to help her join the library. Just as we were about to leave, she received a call from her children’s school. She handed her mobile to me and I found out that her son was poorly and needed to be collected from his reception class and brought home. We walked to the school together, and on the way my friend shared her feelings. With the help of Google Translate, she told me, “In my country, I know where to go and what to do. In this country, I don’t know anything.”
After picking up her youngest son, his signs of ‘tummy ache’ seemed to disappear as we walked home. He started to skip, then climb, then run. By the time we reached the house where they are staying, his happiness seemed to have returned.
From my observations, Shaun Tan’s words and illustrations capture my friends’ experience of life in a strange country, as they try to understand ‘what they are supposed to do’, ‘who they are meant to be’, and ‘where they are’. How do you find your voice and agency in a place so alien and far away from everything you know?
From what I saw this afternoon, having a space to feel safe and loved brings a sense of home and hope.
Read with Julia 