According to Shaun Tan, “drawing is its own form of thinking.” With The Bird King (Arthur A. Levine, $19.99), this Academy Award-winning artist invites the reader to browse his elegant, whimsical and mysterious thought processes.  A deceptively small book, each page of Tan’s collection will capture the reader with its glimpses into the origins of Tan’s art. Opening with a discussion on drawing and the creation of art, the book is separated into four sections: untold stories; sketches from his literary, theatrical, and cinematic endeavors; drawings from life; and his notebooks. This volume is an attractive and obligatory addition to the collections of aspiring artists, writers, and graphic novelists.  Ages 10 and up. KLP