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The Lost Thing The Lost Thing

by Shaun Tan

A boy is out walking on the beach, when he spots a weird looking thing. The thing is large and red and doesn’t seem to belong – it looks lost.

The boy asks around, but nobody seems to know where it came from, so the boy begins a quest to find the thing somewhere to call home.

This unique picture book has few words, but the detailed illustrations will give you plenty to think about and enjoy.

 

Publisher: Hachette Children's Books

Extract

 

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About the author

  • Shaun Tan Photo: Hachette
    Shaun Tan Photo: Hachette

    Shaun Tan

    Shaun Tan was born in 1974 and grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. In school he became known as the 'good drawer' which partly compensated for always being the shortest kid in every class. He graduated from the University of WA in 1995 with joint honours... Read more about Shaun Tan

Video & audio

  • The Lost Thing Booked Up video

  • The Lost Thing Booked Up video (signed version)

Featured reviews

I could not stop reading it was the best book I have ever read, you have to read...
Rebecca

Reviews

I could not stop reading it was the best book I have ever read, you have to read it, if you don't like it I really can't understand you.

Rating: 5 star
Rebecca
Gillingham school
20 September 2010

I think this book is for younger age groups and it should be recommended for younger children as it has lovely illustrations. I like more of a thick book instead of thin and it was just not my type.

Clare
Loreto Grammar School Omagh
22 February 2011

I loved this book, especially the pictures.

Rating: 5 star
Matthew
larne grammar
12 February 2011

I thought the lost thing was brilliant because it got me interested in it and I usually don't get that interested by books, but this book caught my attention and I felt like I had to get it. The book is very mysterious and funny. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to get stuck into a book but at the same time will love the illustrations!

Rating: 5 star
harry
denefield
26 January 2011

I decided to choose this book because of the front cover, to me it stood out to be the most intriguing book out of the selection. This book has some really good comedy that appeals to me, I give it a 4/5

Rating: 4 star
George
denefield
24 January 2011

The book intrigued us as its wonderfully illustrated front cover has a lot of colours and detail. Although the book is very large and hard to read as there are not many words but when there are words they are captions for a picture which really does not make sense. The words that are not captions are very boring and not my type of book. In this case we are giving this book a 1 star as it bored us to death. I don't usually say this but I would not recommend this book!

Rating: 1 star
George
Denefield Secondary School
24 January 2011

This book is great and has great illustrations in it. My favourite part is the part where they go looking for the sign of the business card. I like all of the monsters you can see once they have opened the door. This book is about a man who collects bottle tops. he tries to find its home, a man gives him a business card and then returns it home. I would recommend this book to all ages.

Rating: 4 star
Toby
Carr hill
18 January 2011

it is a great book for people who aren't very good at reading

Rating: 2 star
josh
hanley castle highschool
16 December 2010

Really good and a joy to read. The pictures are good and quite funny. I think you should get it

Rating: 4 star
Chris
HCHS
14 December 2010

A great book, suitable for all ages, with great illustrations!

Rating: 5 star
finn
kennet school
26 November 2010

This book is a brilliant book. It is rather funny. I think it has been based on 7 years and under because it is more of a picture book. But I still enjoyed reading it.

Rating: 3 star
Sam
Richard CoatesChurch of England Middel School
24 November 2010

The book was very interesting. It was a little bit odd although very well written and funny in a weird sort of way. I found that it wasn't really my type of book as I'm not very fond of short, picture books and I think it was made for younger age groups. In my opinion, I found the book slightly boring and lost interest fairly quickly into the book. However, the illustrations were fantastic and well thought up. The book is about a young man who has a bottle top collection and one day he spots a large, red thing sitting on the beach. The man immediately thinks this thing is lost and goes on a quest to return the lost thing to its rightful habitat. A very good idea for a book and probably could be enjoyed by all ages :)

Rating: 2 star
Ruby
Stoke Newington School
10 November 2010

It's funny and short but I will read it again and again.

Rating: 3 star
Lauren
Corsham school
2 November 2010

I recommend this book to people that don’t like reading like me.

Rating: 5 star
Perry
18 August 2010

I would recommend this book to people who like a short and snappy book and one with loads of unusual illustrations.

Rating: 5 star
Oscar
18 August 2010

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