1. Art techniques
2. Asylum seekers
3. Bravery
4. Cultural diversity
5. Danger
6. Emotions
7. Empathy
8. Endpapers
9. Families
10. Fear
11. Food
12. Historical fiction
13. History
14. Multimodal narratives
15. Narrative techniques
16. Refugees
17. Safety
18. Senses
19. Social life and customs
20. Survival
21. Symbolism
22. Visual literacy
23. War

Using vivid monochromatic ink and spare resonate text, ‘Then and Now’ highlights the powerful and important associations the senses carry. Datsun Tran’s first picture book is an evocative telling of his family’s story of making a new home after journeying by boat from Vietnam as refugees.

Through employing strongly contrasting colour tones of brown and blue, two very different worlds are shown: ‘then’ and ‘now’. Each ‘then’ or ‘now’ is a double page spread with the text at the top of the page. On the first page the word ‘Then’ and on the other side a past event ‘Knock, knock, knock. We hide under the table’. The following double page spread is the word ‘Now’ with the corresponding page reading ‘Knock, knock, knock’. We open the door to welcome our guests.

Each double page spread refers to either the past or the present. The powerfully emotive monochrome artwork, brown tones for ‘then’ and blue for ‘now’ shows two very different worlds: one of fear and danger and another of peace and safety. The endpapers reflect this difference: the front features brown tones for ‘then’ and at the back, the ‘now’ in brighter and more peaceful blue tones. The book’s front cover shows two boys holding a Chinese red lantern, most commonly used during Chinese New Year to symbolise a letting go of the past year. However, rather than a letting go of the past, this image appears to reflect the ongoing tension between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ reflecting the always present memories and trauma felt by many refugees.

Tran used mulberry paper, alcohol ink, pigmented ink and gouache. The paper was covered in alcohol ink and then wiped away with pure alcohol to reveal highlights. Gouache was then painted on some pages to direct the reader’s eye and expand the story.

The multimodal style narrative is effective in creating an immersive, multi-sensory and two very different worlds. The reader is drawn into an experience that evokes the senses and stirs the emotions. The book provides an original and empathic telling of the refugee experience.

Datsun Tran combines traditional and modern materials and processes to make ink paintings inspired by classical Chinese brushwork. He explores themes of conflict and utopia, childhood and the relationship between different cultures. His subject matter is often filtered through the lens of what we have in common, rather than what separates us.

‘Then and Now’ is a 2025 CBCA Notable Book.

1. Slingshot Books 1 March 2024. Teaching notes for ‘Then And Now’ by Datsun Tran https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64cf3c32b02a8f6bf6cd4f7e/t/67d3d190f5417f59612717bb/1741935013547/THEN+AND+NOW_teaching+notes.pdf
2. Slingshot Books ‘Datsun Tran Q&A for ‘Then And Now’ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64cf3c32b02a8f6bf6cd4f7e/t/67d3d2ed2da7ca426d078cb8/1741935357460/THEN+AND+NOW_Datsun+Tran+Q%26A.pdf
3. ReadPlus 22 May 2024. Kathryn Beilby reviews ‘Then And Now’ by Datsun Tran https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/then-and-now
4. Liminal 12 February 2024. ‘5 Questions with Datsun Tran’ https://www.liminalmag.com/5-questions/datsun-tran
5. Kozo Studio blogs 2 September 2023. ‘Discovering the magic of mulberry paper: origins, production, and creative uses https://kozo.studio/blogs/journal/discovering-the-magic-of-mulberry-paper-origins-production-and-creative-uses?srsltid=AfmBOopqxr-sXbiInrixOhe9PazJ6sc2LWvhacytGzS4m_DEuIkaGlPN