The Viewer

by Gary Crew, Shaun Tan (Illustrator)

For Tristan, the city dump was a treasure trove, full of mystery. He would take each sad, broken and dirty thing apart to see how each could be made to tick or whirr or ring. Then he found the box. It was filled with lenses, polished glass, microscope, monocle, magnifying glass and a viewmaster. What Tristan saw through the dark orbs as he clicked the viewer was like nothing he had ever seen before. He clicked more slowly, then crept into bed, trembling.

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Horror, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Mystery

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Dr Gary Crew, author of novels, short stories and picture books for older children and young adults, began his writing career in 1985, when he was a high school teacher. His books are challenging and intriguing, often based on non-fiction. As well as writing fiction, Gary is a Associate Professor in Creative Writing, Children's and Adult Literature, at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and editor of the After Dark series.

He lives with his wife Christine on several acres in the cool, high mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland, Australia in a house called 'Green Mansions' which is shaded by over 200 Australian rainforest palms he has cultivated. He enjoys gardening, reading, and playing with his dogs Ferris, Beulah, and Miss Wendy. In his spare time he has created an Australian Rainforest Garden around his home, filled with Australian palms. Gary loves to visit antique shops looking for curios and beautiful objects.

Gary Crew has been awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the year four times: twice for Book of the Year for Young Adult Older Readers (Strange Objects in 1991 and Angel’s Gate in 1993) and twice for Picture Book of the Year with First Light in 1993 (illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe) and The Watertower (illustrated by Steven Woolman) in 1994. Gary’s illustrated book, Memorial (with Shaun Tan) was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book in 2000 and short listed for the Queensland Premier’s Awards. He has also won the Wilderness Society Award, the Whitley Award and the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction.

In the USA he has been twice short listed for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Fiction Award for Youth and the Hungry Minds Review American Children’s Book of distinction. In Europe he has twice been and twice the prestigious White Raven Award for his illustrated books. Among his many Australian awards is the Ned Kelly Prize for Crime Fiction, the New South Wales Premier’s Award and the Victorian Premier’s Award. He has been short listed for both the Queensland Premier’s and the Western Australian Premier’s awards for Fiction.

Reviews

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me multiple reading to enjoy this as much as I do now and, ultimately, fully interpret what I think the story is sharing with us. As always with both Gary Crew AND Shaun Tan, I need a bit of warming up to appreciate them so this took an evening of close reading to glean some understanding.

Tristan is, for me, a symbol of all that is right and wrong with the human condition. We are endlessly curious, we try to fix things that are better left alone and we often don't know when to stop. These conditions of Tristan are, ultimately, what cause his problem at the story's end and, within each viewer, what is illustrated about man's progress in history. War, Destruction, Progress, Science have led us to new discoveries and yet, equally, have led to our downfall.

This is a highly accomplished picturebook for older children and one that could provoke endless creative opportunities in the classroom (the irony!). I thought it was excellent and know that, as with all Tan's work, more will come from it through sharing with others.

[Arie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eerie, dark little story with a wonderfully subtle look back at history through Shaun Tan's fantastic illustrations. I loved the not-so-happy ending...

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this book from my library solely to see more of Shaun Tan's illustrations. He's the illustrator, but not the writer of the story. The story is one of those creepy, horror stories that never comes right out and names the threat, or gives exact details about how the threat is eventually carried out. So, I don't think this is a great story to have "pictures" of things that should be left to the reader's imagination.

The illustrations are expertly done, and definitely shows Tan's talent and skill. But, I think the story would have been better left alone without pictures. And, the pictures would have been better without the text. Tan's compositions are full of things and viewpoints to explore. You kind of leave the text for a good 10 minutes while you wander through the illustrations. I always came back to the words disconnected.

The illustrations do make this worth checking out, but I wouldn't add it to my extensive picture book collection.

[Phoebe Ledster · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Crew’s ‘The Watertower’ I was excited to read more of his work! This picture book is very interesting and builds suspense throughout. It’s eeriness shines through in Tan’s creative and thought provoking illustrations.

It would be excellent to discuss with KS2 children by depicting the illustrations and text. I believe it would be an excellent motivator for children who want to read books which are slightly mysterious and, potentially, a bit frightening.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

He slipped the first disc into the machine and held it to his eyes. He pressed the lever at the side. There was a click which echoed ominously, like the sound of a lightning strike, and in an instant the darkness was gone. — Tristan

This is a creative and pleasing book. Gary Crew's writing style is well-paced for the story. The groundwork for the story has long paragraphs as Tristan is introduced to the reader and he finds the Viewmaster. After Tristan finds and picks up the Viewmaster the paragraphs become shorter eventually almost the point of choppy as circumstances change. The language isn't always the most simple but it is descriptive. The story starts as the main and really only character Tristan is born then jumps to him in his teens. During his exploring a junkyard he finds a latched and sealed box, opening it he finds a Viewmaster and three discs. The second half of the story is what Tristan sees on the discs. The ending is perhaps bittersweet.

Shaun Tan's art is as always sensational. It works perfectly with Crew's wording enhancing and adding to rather and just accompanying the story. The second half of the story is focused on the art. The art within the cells of the discs tells the history of the human race. The art in these cells is almost mindblowing in its detail and variety. The colouring is so beautiful, mostly realistic but some are slightly off but it is all perfect. But it's not all about the cells its all the details around them which I won't go into. Earlier in the book when the reader first meets Tristan the colouring is vastly different, it's bright and white spaces befitting the child focus. The junkyard is smartly done it's all orange scales. As with all Tan work there is an insane amount of detail that you will always find something new. Together they tell a story of exploration and history in a way only they can. It is just beautiful. But I will say I was always going to love this I have never read a Shaun Tan I wouldn't recommend to everyone.

I could have reviewed this as a children's book. With an age recommendation of middle primary; an art style of detailed drawn; theme of inquisitiveness and history; the setting of a child space. But to me, this is a book this a book that is as valuable for adults. This is true to the style of both Gary Crew and Shaun Tan. Both of them create works that can be read by all. Where more details are seen as the reader gets older. If a teacher wanted to use it in a lesson with older students there is potential for a thought exercise about whether they would do what Tristan did. And the cost of inquisitiveness. Crew and Tan have worked together since The Viewer, publishing Memorial in 1999.

A representative gif:

[Emkoshka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Gary Crew – Shaun Tan collaboration which promises a delightful blend of creepy storytelling and rich illustrations. This picture book tells the story of Tristan who often visits the city dump in search of treasure. One day he finds a mysterious ornate box in which there is a seeing tool, much like an old Viewmaster – a favourite childhood toy of mine given a delightfully creepy resurgence here. As Tristan looks through it, he sees the brutal history of civilisation unfold through each click of the wheel: from the stormy, fiery beginnings of the world through the evolution of life through prehistoric man, the rise and fall of ancient civilisations, the crusades and biblical plagues, the rape and pillage of new worlds, the scourge of world wars, to modern horrors like nuclear holocaust, disease, starvation and ruin.

And while he is watching the world within the viewer, it is watching him.

Crew's story is chilling as are Tan's beautifully evocative and graphic illustrations. A particularly deft touch is the repetition in each new slide of a figure carrying a type of recording or viewing device from cave paintings to a scroll to a book to a telescope to a box camera to a video camera. In fact, each single panel is consistent with the ones previous, recurring images like a falling star appearing throughout. This book repays close and repeated readings just to take in all the clever little details.

This book was short-listed for and won a Children's Book Council of Australia award and deservedly so. It reveals the brutality of our history to us and how it is repeated over and over.

[Jessica Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary:
A boy (Tristan) discovers a box at the dump, his curiosity takes over and he takes it home. Upon opening he discovers it's a view master with discs for him to view. These were of events in the world. Starts from how the world began past evolution, Egyptians, war and to the present day.

Implied reader:
Reader would need to know what a view master is and be aware there are problems in the world

Themes:
Death
Curiosity
Addiction
Life as we know it
History

Techniques:
The book uses different viewpoints exchanging between the boy and the view master. The words are prominent at the start but the focus switches to the pictures by the end of the book. The events chosen are mostly negative and the dark background backs that up.

Can be good to use in history lessons or PSHE lessons

[Victoria Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this a few times to capture and fully appreciate the story; however I still feel like if I looked at it again I would notice more that I didn't before (the best kind of story)!
The images were detailed and interesting, you could have good discussions about the images with a KS2 class, and have fun deciphering the hidden meanings and events that the viewer shows us.
I personally found the text at the beginning quite heavy and less reliant on the pictures, however it set a good back-story for the main character. Despite the dark themes, I can imagine a KS2 class enjoying this book; it has strong links to history, literacy, and they could even try making their own "view-master" in DT!

[Benjamin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

May contain spoilers.

This is a book that is very hard to judge. I can imagine that the story and outcome are a reflection on the readers attitude to life, or perhaps their experiences. From this I felt that the "Viewmaster" represented the never ending cycle of destruction and death, that no matter what the one constant is that people/animals (all aspects of life) will die. I feel the ending of the book represents his own death, there is no response, he is not there, and has joined the viewmaster (the never ending cycle of death).

[Georgia Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure where to start with this book. I was on edge the entire book, the colours and illustrations gave an eerie atmosphere, one that made me very uncomfortable. I would say that this is challenging picturebook that I may use in Year 5/6 but not any lower. The story line gave topics that could be investigated in depth, mans success and destruction. I definitely need to revisit this one as I believe there is so much more to learn and gain from it. Thought provoking.

[Agnė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shaun Tan's illustrations are incredibly detailed and eerily beautiful, which fits Gary Crew's story perfectly:




However, I wasn't too impressed by the (horror?) story itself. I feel that I somehow missed its point...

[Muberra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending. Woah.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book is so interesting. You look at it one day but the next day you see something in the book you never noticed before! Full of tension and curiosity. There is no excuse to not read this book.

[Stuart Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief summary:
A boy (Tristan) discovers a box at the dump, his curiosity takes over and he takes it home. Upon opening he discovers it's a view master with discs for him to view. These were of events in the world. Starts from how the world began past evolution, Egyptians, war and to the present day.

Implied reader:
Reader would need to know what a view master is and be aware there are problems in the world

Themes:
Death
Curiosity
Addiction
Life as we know it
History

Techniques:
The book uses different viewpoints exchanging between the boy and the view master. The words are prominent at the start but the focus switches to the pictures by the end of the book. The events chosen are mostly negative and the dark background backs that up.

Can be good to use in history lessons e.g. Egyptians or First World War.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tan's writing and illustrations are always very thought-provoking. The Viewer is the story of a young boy who regularly finds treasures at the local dump. One day he comes home with a box full of instruments for looking at things, including a viewfinder toy. Through this he looks at the pictures, which appear to include moments in world history. When he looks again they have changed. Eventually he crawls inside the viewer....
Like all of Tan's books, the pictures are incredibly detailed and hold many layers of meaning. Reading this through once only, leaves me with the knowledge that I need to spend more time poring over the illustrations.

[K. Carters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I'm being harsh here but I read this one the same time as The Red Tree, Rabbits and The Lost Thing...so it's going to look a poorer relation. That's probably very harsh on this book as it's quite sound. It has a modern ghost story set to a viewfinder of human history. There's probably a lot of hidden meaning but I was probably worn out after the above. I would still recommend it but I prefer the others I have mentioned. There is no denying...kids today are spoilt for quality! This is a millions time better than anything I ever got as a new reader!

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary Crew, The Viewer (Simply Read Books, 2003)

Any book illustrated by Shaun Tan is probably going to be a winner, and Gary Crew's The Viewer is no exception. A boy finds a box, takes it home, and finds a Viewmaster inside with a set of discs that are unlike anything he's ever seen before. Very short, and Tan's illustrations are the star attraction here, but still well worth your time, no matter your age. ****

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, Shaun Tan's art was amazing. But, the story was one that has been told and retold. Amazing machine turns kind of creepy, kidnaps (or whatever you want to call it) kid. Slightly creepy, but not creepy enough. Reminds me of several other stories. Chris Van Allsburg does it much better.

[Chris Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The intricacy and detail which has gone into the picture is amazing!

You have to constantly flick back and check previous images to see what patterns there are forming.

The detail and creativity which has gone into the compact discs is also of a fantastic quality.

Amazing book, so deep in thought as you read through it. Would offer so much to do with the children.

[Adam Chmielowiec · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark story with few drawings and many black backgrounds filled with text. Enigmatic from the beginning, stays in this mood until the very end. My overall impression was not too good, but perhaps it is just not for me. Children with a deep sense of wonder might find it interesting.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read anything by Gary Crew. And with illustrations by Shaun Tan, The Viewer is just so amazing. I can remmeber my own "viewmaster" when i was young.

[Zak Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was really weird. It focuses on Tristan a young baby who is enveloped by curiousity. His whole character personifies the aquisition of new knowledge. I struggled to understand the story, at first it seemed as if he had found some evil contraption which swallowed him and stole him from his world. Perhaps however, the story which shows lots of images of death and pain over time is implying that too much curiousity can lead to our down fall. Perhaps Tristan unpleasantly passed away at the end. This being said I loved the illustrations, how the words moved around, but I just could not get to grips on the story, at points it was also a little overpowering with the amount of writing on the page. Furthermore there is only one way to describe the eye that is constantly staring at you throughout the whole book. Creepy.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit of fantasy, a little of sci-Fi, a mystery and a horror, this picture book by Crew, and illustrated by tan whose recognisable illustrations in this are both intricate and dark, as our curiosity, in essence, kills the ‘cat’, but in reality, our protagonist, who winds up viewing the history of the world, then, the sad, horrific future, for which he becomes prey too. A little Jumanji, and little Twilight zone, this book is for both the curious and the strong at heart. Language for older readers than beginners.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd and dystopian little project with Tan’s illustrations being the standout. It feels like Crew’s narrative and Tan’ visualization run on two separate rails that occasionally fuse. I found reading the narrative in boldface text distracting from the looming, dark paintings. This was filed in my library as an easy reader, but that seems an odd placement for the book’s creepy and intense look at history and the human endeavor.

[Jennifer Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking! Amazing illustrations and a story that will really make your mind work. I read this with a year 5 class and the pictures alone inspired some wonderful creative writing. The discussion we had at the end of the story was so lively because there are so many possible interpretations. The class produced some wonderful artwork based on this too.

You will want to read this several times and each time you will pick up on something you hadn’t appreciated before.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time reading this book after many years.
It’s the ‘strangeness within familiarity’ sort of story where the ending stayed in my head and made me feel really uncomfortable the first time I read it. It wasn’t any nicer reading it the second time round.

These illustrations are dark, unnerving and so detailed - Gary Crew and Shaun Tan are brilliant and books like this show why picture books for older children should not be overlooked.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover design grabbed my attention...thinking about bookbinding ideas, and then the subject too was intriguing. Quite a dark honest view of history through the ages. Having a curious mind is generally a good thing...though not always it would seem. Incredibly imaginative world and illustrations.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A science fiction/fantasy picture book for older readers! Imaginative, speculative, historical, with incredible illustrations by Shaun Tan. I don't know of another picture book like it. Stunning and a bit unsettling. Leaves you with plenty to ponder.

[Sophie 🩷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this, but reading it from an adult perspective. This is absolutely not something I’d show to primary school kids. It’s disturbing and incredibly confusing, and kids don’t need that when there are other books out there.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of an introduction into picture books in KS2 at uni.