From the much-acclaimed creator of The Arrival, The Red Tree and The Lost Thing, fifteen intriguing illustrated stories about the mysteries that lurk below the surface of suburban life. Description 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, tiny exchange students and secret rooms filled with darkness and delight. Awards Winner, 2010 Adelaide Festival awards for literature, Premier's award Winner, 2010 Adelaide Festival awards for literature, Children's literature award Winner, 2009 World Fantasy Award, Best Artist Winner, 2009 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, Best Picture Book (Germany's most prestigious awards for children's and young adult books.) Winner, 2009 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year - Older Readers Winner, 2009 Ditmar Awards for Best Artwork Winner, 2009 ABIA Illustrated Book of the Year Winner, 2008 Western Australia Premier's Literary Award (Young Adult) Winner, 2008 Aurealis Award for Best Illustrated Book/Graphic Novel Shortlisted, 2008 Indie Awards - Children's Book category Shortlisted, 2008 Golden Inky Award Shortlisted, 2008 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature Shaun Tan has been illustrating young adult fiction and picture books since 1996 and is recognised as a leading creator of 'sophisticated picture books'. The Lost Thing, 2000, described as Gary Larson meets Jeffrey Smart, contrasts the casual 'What I did on my holidays' narrative with bizarre, freakishly surreal scenes. In 2002 The Red Tree won Patricia Wrightson Award, NSW Premier's Literary Awards and was an Honour Book in the 2002 CBCA awards In 2007 Shaun's brilliant wordless book, The Arrival won The NSW Premier's Book of the Year and the Community Relations Commission Award, the 2007 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award and achieved a Special Mention in the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award. Shaun's honours include the International Illustrators of the Future Contest (1992, the Spectrum Gold and Silver Awards, the Aurealis and Ditmar Awards for Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy, and the 2001 World Fantasy Award as Best Artist.