In this wordless graphic novel, a man travels to a faraway city seeking better job prospects and a safer home for his family. The immigrant struggles to find his footing in the foreign environment, where he doesn’t understand the language, the customs, or why a strange, little, four-legged creature trails him wherever he goes. Fortunately, friendly strangers help him figure out transportation and employment, often describing how they came to be “arrivals” in the great city; one kind family even welcomes him to dinner and shows him how to prepare some of the city’s odd produce. The immigrant eventually makes enough money to send for his wife and daughter. Reunited, the family puts down roots in the big city.

The wonderful thing about wordless books is that any reader, regardless of the language he or she speaks, can follow the story. ‘The Arrival’ is also universal in its message —not only are we a nation of immigrants, but everyone understands the fear of not belonging, be it in a large or a less noticeable way. Shaun Tan’s drawings beautifully render the worry and homesickness on the immigrant’s face, the vast city’s otherworldly architecture through changing seasons, and the local people’s migrant stories within the larger narrative. All of this is accomplished with only black and white pencil. ‘The Arrival’ is the type of book that reveals a new detail or interpretation with every reading—a true masterpiece.

In this wordless graphic novel, a man travels to a faraway city seeking better job prospects and a safer home for his family. The immigrant struggles to find his footing in the foreign environment, where he doesn’t understand the language, the customs, or why a strange, little, four-legged creature trails him wherever he goes. Fortunately, friendly strangers help him figure out transportation and employment, often describing how they came to be “arrivals” in the great city; one kind family even welcomes him to dinner and shows him how to prepare some of the city’s odd produce. The immigrant eventually makes enough money to send for his wife and daughter. Reunited, the family puts down roots in the big city.

The wonderful thing about wordless books is that any reader, regardless of the language he or she speaks, can follow the story. ‘The Arrival’ is also universal in its message —not only are we a nation of immigrants, but everyone understands the fear of not belonging, be it in a large or a less noticeable way. Shaun Tan’s drawings beautifully render the worry and homesickness on the immigrant’s face, the vast city’s otherworldly architecture through changing seasons, and the local people’s migrant stories within the larger narrative. All of this is accomplished with only black and white pencil. ‘The Arrival’ is the type of book that reveals a new detail or interpretation with every reading—a true masterpiece.

The Dark Lord is the supreme ruler of the Darklands, commander of Orc hordes, master of the Nightgaunts, and destroyer of all things good. Or at least he was until his foe, the White Wizard, transported him to the human world and into the body of a twelve-year-old boy. Now the Dark lord finds himself trapped without his strength or magic, and even his Ring of Power won’t work. And why do the puny humans insist on calling him Dirk Lloyd? If Dark Lord is ever to return home, he must figure out the rules to this world and rely on a new set of minions —or as they prefer to be called, his friends.

The Dark Lord’s unique voice infuses the page, turning mundane schooldays into roiling evil monologues and imprecations at the constant slights to his unrecognized supremacy. The book is interspersed with the Dark Lord’s diary entries and goofy sketches, giving further insight into a mind that is at once diabolical yet endearing. If you’re looking for ‘Wimpy Kid’ with a side of ‘Lord of the Rings’, or if you’re just looking for a laugh, this is one series you shouldn’t be in the dark about.

The Dark Lord is the supreme ruler of the Darklands, commander of Orc hordes, master of the Nightgaunts, and destroyer of all things good. Or at least he was until his foe, the White Wizard, transported him to the human world and into the body of a twelve-year-old boy. Now the Dark lord finds himself trapped without his strength or magic, and even his Ring of Power won’t work. And why do the puny humans insist on calling him Dirk Lloyd? If Dark Lord is ever to return home, he must figure out the rules to this world and rely on a new set of minions —or as they prefer to be called, his friends.

The Dark Lord’s unique voice infuses the page, turning mundane schooldays into roiling evil monologues and imprecations at the constant slights to his unrecognized supremacy. The book is interspersed with the Dark Lord’s diary entries and goofy sketches, giving further insight into a mind that is at once diabolical yet endearing. If you’re looking for ‘Wimpy Kid’ with a side of ‘Lord of the Rings’, or if you’re just looking for a laugh, this is one series you shouldn’t be in the dark about.

After losing her mother as a toddler, watching her brother die in front of her from a battle wound, bearing witness to the psychological torture of her once-strong grandmother, and being sold off by her father for a paltry sum, Neryn finds herself all alone in the land of Alban. Only, she’s not quite alone because Neryn has the unique ability to communicate with the Good Folk—fairy-like creatures— and sees them even when they disguise themselves amongst nature. While this ability wins her the aid and wisdom of the Good Folk, it also makes her a target of the land’s tyrannical king who has outlawed magic (except for his own personal use). If Neryn is to survive, she must use her gift to find the mysterious rebel camp known as Shadowfell and help the warriors who stand against the king. Along her journey, Neryn must pass many tests in order to reach her potential and prove herself an integral part of the rebellion. Will she be strong enough to carry this unexpected burden?

After losing her mother as a toddler, watching her brother die in front of her from a battle wound, bearing witness to the psychological torture of her once-strong grandmother, and being sold off by her father for a paltry sum, Neryn finds herself all alone in the land of Alban. Only, she’s not quite alone because Neryn has the unique ability to communicate with the Good Folk—fairy-like creatures— and sees them even when they disguise themselves amongst nature. While this ability wins her the aid and wisdom of the Good Folk, it also makes her a target of the land’s tyrannical king who has outlawed magic (except for his own personal use). If Neryn is to survive, she must use her gift to find the mysterious rebel camp known as Shadowfell and help the warriors who stand against the king. Along her journey, Neryn must pass many tests in order to reach her potential and prove herself an integral part of the rebellion. Will she be strong enough to carry this unexpected burden?

When the unnamed protagonist of the follow up to ‘Oh No! Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World’ gets a question wrong on her history test, she knows there’s only one thing to do: build a time machine and change history so she can be right. Such is the inner workings of a child genius. Predictably, the plan backfires, and cavemen run off with the time machine and invade history.

Illustrator Dan Santat is on form as always, his strong sense of lighting and big cartoon expressions adding appropriate personality to the minimalist text. However, the story feels a bit rushed and the ending a little short– its form perhaps more analogous to a cartoon short or an extended comic strip than a more traditional picture book arc. Ultimately, the mark of a good story is that it leaves its reader wanting more at the end, and ‘Oh No! Not Again!’ succeeds brilliantly on that front. This is a book that will have children and adults alike wanting to spend ample time poring over every page.

When the unnamed protagonist of the follow up to ‘Oh No! Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World’ gets a question wrong on her history test, she knows there’s only one thing to do: build a time machine and change history so she can be right. Such is the inner workings of a child genius. Predictably, the plan backfires, and cavemen run off with the time machine and invade history.

Illustrator Dan Santat is on form as always, his strong sense of lighting and big cartoon expressions adding appropriate personality to the minimalist text. However, the story feels a bit rushed and the ending a little short– its form perhaps more analogous to a cartoon short or an extended comic strip than a more traditional picture book arc. Ultimately, the mark of a good story is that it leaves its reader wanting more at the end, and ‘Oh No! Not Again!’ succeeds brilliantly on that front. This is a book that will have children and adults alike wanting to spend ample time poring over every page.