Shaun Tan is renowned throughout children's publishing for his ability to transport readers to unexpected and fantastical locations. His newest book, Rules of Summer does that and more. 
 The text begins, "This is what I learned last summer", and the experience is of what is shown through Tan's beautiful paintings is at times incredible and, at other moments, alarming, but never is there a moment when you want to turn your eyes away. The text is a series of simple rules that, when taken out of context, carry a tinge of threat, but ultimately feel like those rules parents have been saying to kids for generations. However, when paired with Tan's illustrations the text tells a whimsical story of two boys encountering menacing creatures, curious phenomenon, and the importance of looking out for one another, even when the other keeps making mistakes. 
 Each spread is laid out the same way, with a single line of text centered on a neutral tone background on the left-hand page paired with a beautifully painted, enticing-to-the-eye illustration taking the text in an unexpected direction. Tan's use of scale and perspective play a large role in developing the world of Rules of Summer as strange and dangerous to the unfamiliar eye, yet familiar to the two boys. Only once do we see the boys cower in fear (an incident involving a red sock), which adds an incredible contrast to the way the boys handle themselves in later situations in the story. In a way, it's as if Tan is actually helping to establish the rules of this world for the readers, as if to say, "these are not things to be afraid of, but that over there... now that is a reason to worry." 
 Shaun Tan's art is in top form and he once again demonstrates the wonder at work in our imaginations. My mind races to what drawings children would create for summer rules of their own, before and after reading Rules of Summer. 
 (Full review posted at http://www.busylibrarian.com/2014/07/...)