THE RED TREE

THE RED TREE

Journey to the depths of the soul...

The Furfouri editions are very proud to announce the publication in Greek of another work by the multi-awarded Australian author Shaun Tan. 

After the great success of the movie "Arrival" that young and old readers loved Furfouri Editions, comes "The Red Tree" to take us to the deep waters of childhood emotions. 

"The Red Tree" it is one picture book, with little text, which tells the story of a red-haired girl who wanders through dreamscapes, in fantastic locations with mythical creatures, in colorful dystopias and improbable situations. Immersed in his feelings, he observes them, tastes them, touches them and listens to them, proceeding on a course that will end with an explosion of joy in front of a "Red Tree". 

It is a story made up of a series of separate imaginary worlds, self-contained images that invite readers to design their own narrative in the absence of any explanation. As the creator himself explains "the central idea of the book is based on the impulse of children, but also of adults, to describe their feelings using metaphors: Monsters, storms, bright suns, rainbows, etc. Moving beyond clichés, I wanted to paint images that would further explore the expressive possibilities of this kind of shared imagination, which could be both strange and familiar. An unnamed young girl appears in each image at a point of self-observation. She goes helplessly through many dark moments, but finally finds something hopeful at the end of her journey."

The book has been translated into many languages and is often used as a "tool" by mental health professionals to approach her childhood melancholy and depression, but also other mental states. Its pages are also consulted by psychologists and psychotherapists when working with people who have manifested self-destructive tendencies. 

Despite the heavy burden this particular book carries, it should not be treated as an unpleasant read. The beauty of the images and the challenge of the narrative draw us into a dream world where imagination rules. 

There is no linear narrative. The reader can open the book to a random page, stay on it as long as desired and continue, without necessarily aiming for the end, forward or back to the remaining pages.

THE Shaun Tan is a writer, illustrator and film producer. He comes from Australia and is the owner of, among other awards Hugo, World Fantasy Award, of Swedish Astrid Lindgren Memorial and the British medal Kate Greenaway, but also oscar, for the film adaptation of his picture book The Lost Thing.

THE RED TREE