Eric by Shaun Tan. unpgd. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., October, 2020. 9781338622089. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)
Exchange student, Eric, arrives at the home of our unnamed narrator, who arrogantly assumes he/ she will be his "local expert." The family cannot pronounce his name and so they call him Eric. (My school is nearly 40% Asian and I am always a bit sad when students choose an American name.) Eric chooses to sleep and study in the pantry. "'It must be a cultural thing,' said Mum." Oh, the arrogance. Our narrator is flummoxed by Eric's constant questions. The host family drags poor Eric on countless excursions, but he seems focused on small and seemingly insignificant details, much to their frustration. Then, Eric leaves abruptly and the family discovers the gift that Eric left in their pantry.
This picture book is an excerpt from Mr. Tan's Tales from Outer Suburbia, which I have not read. It was published several years ago in Australia in a small book format and now comes to the U.S. in standard picture book size. It is just lovely. Eric is a being of unknown origin and thus, can stand in for any "other." While our narrator is concerned for Eric's happiness, he/ she is clearly unhappy about his numerous questions.
The cross-hatched black and white illustrations depict a small, slight figure with a curious three-pronged head. It isn't until Eric leaves that color is introduced. And yet, Mother insists on stating, "It must be a cultural thing."
Wow. Mind blown. Some years ago, I gave a copy of The Arrival to the ESL teacher, who loved it and shares it regularly with her students. This book though, goes a bit farther and explores the self-centered (presumably) white majority. While the story is amusing and off-beat, it is quite deep and wryly observant.
Eric is a conversation starter for sure. It's also beautifully designed from it's embossed jacket through intriguing end pages and it's uncluttered layout featuring plenty of white space. Highly recommended.
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