1
of
1
The Red Tree
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 6,621 ratings, 835 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Hardback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK
Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock
Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Red Tree. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Latest News
New Hero Alert! Meet Theresa – our new Warehouse Sidekick
We’re thrilled to welcome Theresa to the Book Hero team! Whenever we bring a new...
Our Rolife Range Is Getting Even Bigger!
Our Rolife range is getting even bigger! We’ve got a huge new shipment on the...
How to Make 1000 Piece Puzzles Easier
1000 piece puzzles can seem a little intimidating, but a few simple tricks can make...
Pick up a Microhistory (and become a very niche expert)
If you've seen people talking about a book about Salt and wondered what was happening...
Lizzy's August Reading
Book Hero team member Lizzy is rounding up her reads for August! Check out what...
See moreA small child awakes to find blackened leaves falling from her threatening to quietly overwhelm her. As she wanders around a world that is complex and alienating, she is overtaken by a myriad of feelings. Just as it seems all hope is lost, she finds a red seedling has filled the room with light. NSW Premier's Award 2002. Ages 4+.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
A small child awakes to find blackened leaves falling from her bedroom ceiling, threatening to quietly overwhelm her. 'Sometimes you wake up with nothing to look forward to...' As she wanders around a world that is complex, puzzling and alienating, she is overtaken by a myriad of feelings. Just as it seems all hope is lost, the girl returns to her bedroom to find that a tiny red seedling has grown to fill the room with warm light. Astonishing Perth artist, Shaun Tan's latest creation, The Red Tree, is a book about feelings - feelings that can not always be simply expressed in words. It is a series of imaginary landscapes conjured up by the wizardry of Shaun Tan's masterful and miraculous art. As a kind of fable, The Red Tree seeks to remind us that just as bad feelings are inevitable, they are always tempered by hope.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Red Tree by Shaun Tan is praised for its stunning, evocative artwork and its ability to convey complex emotions through both text and illustration. It's often described as a poignant exploration of feelings like loneliness and confusion, which resonate with readers both young and old. Reviewers highlight its universal themes and the subtle hope it offers, making it a thought-provoking book for children and adults alike.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780734401724
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 October 2001
Country: Australia
Imprint: Lothian Children's Books
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 9.0mm
Width: 242.0mm
Height: 316.0mm
Weight: 450g
Pages: 48
About the Author
Shaun Tan has an outstanding reputation for his illustrative work. He won the Spectrum Gold Award for Book Illustration 2000 and also the Crichton Award (The Viewer) in 1995. The Rabbits, written by John Marsden, was named CBCA Book of the Year and received the Aurealis Governor's Award in 1999; and Memorial, written by Gary Crew, was a CBCA Honour Book and also won an APA Design Award in 2000. He wrote and illustrated The Lost Thing, published in 2000. He has been a leading science-fiction illustrator in Australia for several years; with recognition including the illustrators of the Future Award 1991 and the Australian National Science Fiction Best Artist Award 1995, 1996. The Red Tree is his fifth picture book.
Also by Shaun Tan
View all-
The Singing Bones
In this beautifully presented volume, the essence of seventy-five fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm is wonderfully evoked by Shaun Tan's extraordinary sculptures. Nameless princes, wicked stepsisters, greedy kings, honourable peasants and ruthless witches, tales of love, betrayal, adventure and magical transformation: all inspiration for this stunning gallery of sculptural works. Introduced by Grimm Tales author Philip Pullman and leading...Hardback$4100Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Eric
Eric is eternally curious and effortlessly charming – a house guest whose approach to the world will capture your heart.Hardback$2299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
11% offTales from the Inner City
Where can we live if not in each other's shadow? World-renowned artist Shaun Tan applies his unique imagination to a reflection on the nature of humans and animals, and our urban coexistence. From crocodile to frog, tiger to bee, this is a dark and surreal exploration of the perennial love and destruction we feel and inflict—of how animals can save...Hardback$3200Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Dog
Once we were strangers,legs bent the wrong way,rough voices falling to the wind ...But in our hearts we wanted more than this. In our hearts, we knew there was more. A tour de force. - The New York TimesHardback$2299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Rules of Summer
Academy Award and Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award winner Shaun Tan combines humour and surreal fantasy to picture a summer in the lives of two boys. The boys hide from a giant red rabbit and outwit a crowd of scary eagles, but when their games become ever darker and sinister, they learn that breaking the rules can be dangerous. Visually fascinating....Hardback$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Tales of Light and Dark: A Shaun Tan Collection
Who is that exchange student living in our cupboard? Whatever happened to all those bears with lawyers? Why do dogs bark in the middle of the night?Collected together for the first time, forty illustrated tales of urban and suburban wonder, fear, humour and hope by the acclaimed creator of The Arrival, The Lost Thing and The Singing Bones.Tales from Outer...Book$4500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
20% offThe Rabbits
The Rabbits offers a rich and immensely valuable perspective on the effect of man on his environment. Visually loaded and told with a passion for truth and understanding, The Rabbits aims to promote cultural awareness and a sense of caring for the natural world. A rich and haunting allegory for all ages, all cultures.Paperback$1600Usually:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Tales From Outer Suburbia
Do you remember the water buffalo at the end of our street? Or the deep-sea diver we found near the underpass? Do you know why dogs bark in the middle of the night? Shaun Tan, creator of The Arrival, The Lost Thing and The Red Tree, reveals the quiet mysteries of everyday life: homemade pets, dangerous weddings, stranded sea mammals,...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Creature
Creature is a collection of Shaun Tan’s artwork from the past 25 years. The drawings and paintings in the book come from his work in picture books and other works including films and graphic novels. Others were created for no specific purpose beyond the desire to see what something looks like, or just to follow a sketched line to see...Hardback$7495Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Pre-orderThe Red Tree
A new edition with bonus material from the author to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this important book about feelings that cannot be easily expressed in words. A small child awakes to find blackened leaves falling from her bedroom ceiling, threatening to quietly overwhelm her. 'Sometimes you wake up with nothing to look forward to ...' As she wanders around...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-orderHometown
You need to know who I am.What I think and how I feel.Then you'll know why I did what I did. Imagine living in a perfect world. You have a loving family, a beautiful home and awesome friends. Everything is just as it should be. Until one day, when a stranger arrives. A stranger who looks just like you. A...Hardback$3299Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
The Arrival
What drives so many to leave everything behind and journey alone to a mysterious country, a place without family or friends, where everything is nameless and the future is unknown? This silent graphic novel is the story of every migrant, every refugee, every displaced person, and a tribute to all those who have made the journey. The Arrival has become...PaperbackSold Out
More from Children's Books
View all-
New ReleaseThe Neverfear
A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseMatihe! Achoo!
What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...Paperback$1899Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleasePocket Observology
Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...Paperback$2399Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
Pre-orderNew ReleaseMinecraft Annual 2027
The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseGiant Heart
Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. “[David Hill’s] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseProtector of Beyond 1
Experience fierce magical creatures, perilous trials, and a heroine to root for in this 1st instalment in a new blockbuster fantasy series. The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight! And 12-year-old Elder Triss produces a spark like no other. Transported to the mysterious Beyond, Elder has no choice but to train for...Paperback$2199Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseAnimalia 40th Anniversary Edition
A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...Hardback$2999Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseThe Little Kiwi Builder
Oh no, the little kiwi builder's house is falling down! His screws have all come loose - what can he do? When the brickie, the plumber, the roofer, the sparky and the painter all come to help, it's looking good! Until, that night ... uh-oh! Perfect for: Anyone who likes fun and silly rhyming stories Reading aloud with little ones...Paperback$1899Elsewhere:$2199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseYou Choose Party Time
It's time to celebrate - Party Time is a brand new You Choose adventure! It's Party Time and you choose what happens! What kind of party will it be? Who will you invite? Which cake would you like to eat? Will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? The possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which...Hardback$2599Elsewhere:$3400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseWhen Nature Calls (Duck #2)
New in 2026, the latest story from Duck, the quirky new children's series by million-copy bestselling author Matt Stanton. Do you ever wonder what animals think about humans? Do they feel they could do a better job running things? Would they ever try and take over? Duck, Mouse and Dog are alarmed that the adults in Redhill are being brainwashed...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseThe Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
New ReleaseRoyalslinger
K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise for Dreamslinger: “A mind-blowingly original fantasy adventure—Graci Kim has done it again!”—Rick Riordan, New York Times #1...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Children's Books lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Lizzy's Favourite Kiwi Pukapuka!
Here a huge bunch of incredible books for Kiwi kids of all ages, by amazing Kiwi authors! Including picture books and chapter...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Books for Helping Kids with Emotions!
Books are a great way to help children learn about emotions - giving them the language to name and recognize how they...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Chapter Books for the Classroom
Looking for some fresh inspiration when it comes to reading to your class? Lizzy has you covered with her chapter book recommendations!View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Travel Books for Tamariki
Going on a trip with your children? There are some amazing pukapuka (books) that are perfect for young travelers! Check out this...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listChildren's Books
Lizzy's Favourite Picture Books
A collection of my favourite picture books to read aloud with my child and keep on the bookshelf as a reminder of...View the list
