The Arrival is a beautifully illustrated, wordless, allegorical, graphic novel. It is the story of an immigrant who leaves his family to find a better place for a new world.   Shaun Tan uses timing and amazing images to demonstrate to the reader/onlooker what it felt like for various people coming to a new country for the first time, especially those seeking to escape something in their old country.  The illustrations are amazing and awe-inspiring, with invented creatures, building shapes, foods, and machines.

Definitely a great book to have on hand.  Enjoyable for all ages -even pre- readers can tell the story and practice left to right progression and older kids can enjoy the amazing art work and get a real feel for what it felt like for immigrants coming to America for the first time.

For my children, this book required some discussion of context and from there the children where able to grasp what the author was saying.  It is a great book to look at and discuss together, havng the kids explain what they think is going on in each image.

Prior knowledge helpful (but not necessary) when perusing this book:

• Why people leave their home country for a new one.
• Recognition of cultural differences of food, clothing, how things are done, etc.
• Immigration process.