I’m curious: do you have a book that’s a beacon for you? One you return to when you need it as light, as guide? It could be for any reason at all. One you’ve known since childhood. One that saved you in its own way. One that serves as solace, inspiration, spurrer-on.
Anyone who’s taken a writing workshop from me knows my favorite book of all time is a picture book: THE RED TREE by Shaun Tan. I first read it fifteen or twenty years ago. It’s become a touchstone, a comforting light—that beacon I’m speaking of.
Before I tell you why, I’ll say it is a particular beacon right now, helpful when hopeless, despairing, if isolated in grief and heartbreak, in activism, in witnessing.
There are two main reasons The Red Tree is my book-beacon:
For its resonance with my personal history and mental health . The story and art convey depression and being adrift so beautifully and imaginatively. The surreal but visceral imagery of a baffling world and simple direct second person narration capture our experience while they captivate us. They make the reader feel seen, known, less alone in despair or bewilderment or strangeness. And then, there is hope. Children may notice a tiny red leaf on every spread—the thing we often can’t see when we are like the character in the pictures, in a suffering fog. And then it ends with what those tiny leaves have been building toward, growing into: a glowing, vibrant tree.
“sometimes the day begins
with nothing to look forward to
and things go from bad to worse…
sometimes you just don’t know what you are supposed to do
or who you are meant to be…
///
but suddenly there it is
right in front of you
bright and vivid
quietly waiting…”
For its voice. My own writing style has been influenced by Shaun Tan’s for many years. I write picture book manuscripts (and others) that are more concepts than strict narratives, explorations of ideas, of some aspect of life. I write manuscripts that have a bit of weirdness. I write manuscripts that usually start from a feeling I’m having, one I imagine kids and other people have too, and how to process it, convey it, and give it power to transform you.
All Shaun Tan’s books can be found on his website or here.
What book of any kind is a beacon for you and why?
Hi Danielle, What a beautiful post! I love the idea of thinking about books as beacons. I am not familiar with THE RED TREE so will be sure to look it up.
I have two to share:
1) All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee. This *beautiful* book is reassuring, inspiring, hopeful, and moving. We received this book as a gift when my daughter was born, and it has become a touchstone. https://lizgartonscanlon.com/books/picture-books/all-the-world/
2) Over and Over by Charlotte Zolotow with illustrations by Garth Williams. This is a book I knew and loved as a child, and when I open it up, it takes me right back! I remember poring over the illustrations. It is very comforting and reassuring, looking at the moments that happen year over year, over and over. It takes me back to a child's point of view and reminds me of how differently we all experience the passing of time. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/charlotte-zolotow/over-and-over/
Ooo, neat! I know the first one and the second one from the archives, I just put on hold at my local library to check out. Thank you for sharing these that both feel like they simultaneously speak to the bigness and smallness of a the world and experiences.
Hi Danielle, What a beautiful post! I love the idea of thinking about books as beacons. I am not familiar with THE RED TREE so will be sure to look it up.
I have two to share:
1) All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee. This *beautiful* book is reassuring, inspiring, hopeful, and moving. We received this book as a gift when my daughter was born, and it has become a touchstone. https://lizgartonscanlon.com/books/picture-books/all-the-world/
2) Over and Over by Charlotte Zolotow with illustrations by Garth Williams. This is a book I knew and loved as a child, and when I open it up, it takes me right back! I remember poring over the illustrations. It is very comforting and reassuring, looking at the moments that happen year over year, over and over. It takes me back to a child's point of view and reminds me of how differently we all experience the passing of time. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/charlotte-zolotow/over-and-over/
Ooo, neat! I know the first one and the second one from the archives, I just put on hold at my local library to check out. Thank you for sharing these that both feel like they simultaneously speak to the bigness and smallness of a the world and experiences.