THE RABBITS

by JOHN MARSDEN , Illustrated by SHAUN TAN

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Brand new softcover book with beautiful colour pictures. 48 pages, published 2008

 The rabbits came many grandparents ago. They built houses, made roads, had children. They cut down trees. A whole continent of rabbits...

A rich and haunting allegory for all ages, and all cultures. 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. Re-released for the 10th anniversary of publication is the original poignant text by the inimitable John Marsden, with exquisite illustrations by the multi-award-winning Shaun Tan.

A thought-provoking, rich and haunting allegory for all ages, all cultures, that earned its author and illustrator the CBCA Picture Book of the Year in 1999. Visually loaded and told with a passion for truth and understanding, this stunningly illustrated volume aims to promote cultural awareness and a sense of caring for the natural world. Bestselling author John Marsden has created a dramatically moving allegory of colonisation told from the perspective of native animals. Examining the consequences of the arrival of a group of rabbits with unfamiliar ways, the story shows how colonisation can result in the domination of the environment and its other inhabitants.

About the author:
John Marsden is one of the most popular writers of young adult fiction. His books have sold more than three million copies worldwide and he has won or been shortlisted for every major award for children’s and young adult literature in Australia, including CBCA (Children’s Book Council of Australia) Children’s Book of the Year and Picture Book of the Year, the National Book Award and numerous others. His first book, So Much to Tell You, was published in 1987 and because of its enormous popularity is also available now in a play version. The gripping war series which began with Tomorrow, When the War Began has broken all sales records for young adult fiction, and Burning for Revenge won the Bookdata ABA Book of the Year in 1996. After more than thirty books John is arguably one of the best known and most respected novelists for young adults. He lives near Melbourne where he is Principal of Candlebark School.

About the illustrator:
Shaun Tan grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. He graduated from the University of WA in 1995 with joint honours in Fine Arts and English Literature, and currently works full time as a freelance artist and author. He lives in Melbourne with his partner Inari Kiuru and a small yellow parrot.
Shaun began drawing and painting images for science fiction and horror stories in small-press magazines as a teenager, and has since become best known for illustrated books that deal with social, political and historical subjects through surreal, dreamlike imagery. Other books such as The Red Tree, The Lost Thing and the acclaimed wordless novel The Arrival have been widely published throughout Europe, Asia and South America, and enjoyed by readers of all ages. Shaun has also worked as a theatre designer, and a concept artist for films with Passion Pictures, Blue Sky Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

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The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan