1. Art techniques
2. Belonging
3. Book design
4. Brothers
5. Fantasy
6. Friendship
7. Imagination
8. Sharing
9. Visual literacy

‘Rules of Summer’ explores the imaginative play of two young boys as they trek through the city during their summer holidays. The written narrative is little more than a list of mysterious rules, but the liminal spaces and scenes through which the characters move tell the story of two boys projecting their inventive summer games onto the urban reality of their environment. Shaun Tan’s colossal oil painted illustrations thrust the boys into extraordinary situations, creating an atmospheric fantastical allegory for familiar childhood experiences even as the reader is invited to decide themselves what is happening in reality. The complex artwork contrasts with the simple instructions to tell the story of the consequences that led to the boys creating the rules— becoming dark and alienating as tension builds and breaks between them and bright and boisterous once they’ve reconciled.

Shaun Tan is one of Australia’s most prolific and celebrated children’s authors, many of his stories and artworks having won multiple literary awards. ‘Rules of Summer’ itself was nominated for an Aurealis Award and won a Ditmar Award in 2014. Shaun Tan also created an app version of ‘Rules of Summer’, adding experimental music, lighting, effects, and a ‘sketch mode’ which highlighted his creative process while he was developing each illustration. Shaun Tan has stated that he hopes ‘Rules of Summer’ can stand as both a story of friendship between two boys tested by challenging situations and one that the reader can recognise as universal regardless of age, gender or background.

1. Shaun Tan: Author’s Website ‘Rules of Summer’ https://www.shauntan.net/summer-book
2. Shaun Tan: Author’s Website ‘Rules of Summer’ – The App’ https://www.shauntan.net/ros-app
3. Youtube, 7 May 2020. Art with Mrs. F reads the ‘Rules of Summer’ written and illustrated by Shaun Tan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNjOUYtxe2Q
4. Youtube, 11 June 2013. Shaun Tan talks about ‘Rule of Summer’ – The Origins and Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHYRc7F0pwQ
5. Youtube, 16 October 2013. ABC Arts host Illustrator Shaun Tan – ‘Rules of Summer’ Books and Arts Daily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbjMpWc3amk
6. Scholastic Australia Teacher Toolkit. Teaching notes by Robyn Sheahan-Bright for ‘Rules of Summer‘ by Shaun Tan http://www.scool.scholastic.com.au/schoolzone/toolkit/assets/pdfs/Rules_of_Summer.pdf
7. Slap Happy Larry 2 August 2016 ‘Rules of Summer’ by Shaun Tan Analysis https://www.slaphappylarry.com/picturebook-study-rules-of-summer-by-shaun-tan/
8. School Library Journal 10 April 2014. Betsy Bird, Review of the Day: ‘Rules of Summer’ by Shaun Tan https://afuse8production.slj.com/2014/04/10/review-of-the-day-rules-of-summer-by-shaun-tan/
9. The Guardian Review, 14 April 2016. MA Griffin reviews ‘Rules of Summer’ by Shaun Tan https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/apr/14/the-magical-thinking-of-shaun-tans-rules-of-summer
10. School Library Journal, 9 June 2014. Katie Cunningham reviews ‘Rules of Summer’ by Shaun Tan https://theclassroombookshelf.com/2014/06/09/rules-of-summer/