We were big fans of Shaun Tan's 2007 graphic novel The Arrival, naming it the best of the year – and we weren't alone, as the book garnered accolades everywhere and became a surprise bestseller. But that solemn, silent tale of immigration didn't prepare us for the wordy whimsy of Tan's new book, Tales From Outer Suburbia. Short, outlandish prose stories are interspersed with Tan's customary gorgeous, fantastical drawings. Is it a graphic novel? An illustrated book? Is it for children or adults? We don't know – we just know it's great.

This week on the Comics Page, Vulture is proud to present an exclusive seven-page excerpt from Tales From Outer Suburbia, to be published next month by Scholastic.