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y separately published work icon The Viewer single work   picture book   children's  
Issue Details: First known date: 1997... 1997 The Viewer
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'The Viewer tells the peculiar story of a boy whose obsession with curious artefacts leads him to discover a strange box at a dump site. It proves to be an ancient chest full of optical devices, one of which captures his interest; an intricately mechanical object which carries disks of images; scenes of destruction, violence and the collapse of civilisations throughout time. The boy is afraid, but also cannot help but look into the machine time and time again as the images shift and change...' (Source: Shaun Tan's website)

Teaching Resources

Teaching Resources

This work has teaching resources.

Teachers' notes via publisher's website.

Notes

  • Aimed at older primary-school readers.

Affiliation Notes

  • This work is affiliated with the AustLit subset Asian-Australian Children's Literature and Publishing it has been translated into Chinese.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Port Melbourne, South Melbourne - Port Melbourne area, Melbourne - Inner South, Melbourne, Victoria,: Lothian , 1997 .
      image of person or book cover 6571310461884797731.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 33p.
      Description: col. illus.
      ISBN: 0850918286
    • South Melbourne, South Melbourne - Port Melbourne area, Melbourne - Inner South, Melbourne, Victoria,: Lothian , 2003 .
      Extent: 32p.
      Description: col. illus.
      ISBN: 0734406010
Alternative title: 觀像鏡
Transliterated title: Guan xiang jing
Language: Chinese

Works about this Work

Simply Read : An Innovative Press Carole Scott , 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Jeunesse : Young People, Texts, Culture , Summer vol. 2 no. 1 2010; (p. 203-222)

'As I delved into the box of books that arrived from Canadian publisher Simply Read, I was immediately impressed by the wide variety I found. Not only were the books of all sizes, shapes, formats, and designs, they also spanned multiple genres and audiences. Primarily picture books or illustrated books, they included board books for very young readers, books with edgy and often philosophical humour, classics with striking new illustrations, books with historical and/or cultural implications, and mysterious books exploring the surreal and twisting perspective. The company's website makes a commitment to quality productions in text and graphics, noting its intent to produce "contemporary books with a modern appearance and fresh outlook" and stories "that link the past with the present" ("About Us"). As Perry Nodelman had promised when he invited me to review this innovative press, I found many works that are graphically startling and inventive, and many that are thoughtful and provocative, involving complex messages regarding human values and philosophical perspectives. The more accessible books for younger children have bright visuals and evocative language and sounds, and many are educational in various ways. It is not surprising that the books have garnered a significant number of awards and honourable mentions from across the world.' (Introduction)

The Uncanny Lurch in Shaun Tan's The Viewer and The Lost Thing Alice Mills , 2006 single work criticism
— Appears in: CREArTA : Journal of the Centre for Research and Education in the Arts , vol. 6 no. 2006; (p. 64-74)
[Review] The Viewer Liz Derouet , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers , vol. 18 no. 1 2004; (p. 52)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
[Review] The Viewer Tanya Dalgleish , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Classroom , vol. 20 no. 4 2001; (p. 43 - 44)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
[Review] The Viewer Joan Zahnleiter , 1998 single work review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , May vol. 42 no. 2 1998; (p. 12)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
[Review] The Viewer Joan Zahnleiter , 1998 single work review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , May vol. 42 no. 2 1998; (p. 12)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
[Review] The Viewer Liz Derouet , 2004 single work review
— Appears in: Fiction Focus : New Titles for Teenagers , vol. 18 no. 1 2004; (p. 52)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
Picture Books Linnet Hunter , 1998 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , June no. 201 1998; (p. 43-44)

— Review of Tough Lester Nette Hilton , 1997 single work picture book ; The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book ; Highway Nadia Wheatley , 1997 single work picture book
[Review] The Viewer Tanya Dalgleish , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Classroom , vol. 20 no. 4 2001; (p. 43 - 44)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
[Review] The Viewer Clare Renner , 1998 single work review
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Winter vol. 6 no. 2 1998; (p. 38)

— Review of The Viewer Gary Crew , 1997 single work picture book
The Uncanny Lurch in Shaun Tan's The Viewer and The Lost Thing Alice Mills , 2006 single work criticism
— Appears in: CREArTA : Journal of the Centre for Research and Education in the Arts , vol. 6 no. 2006; (p. 64-74)
Simply Read : An Innovative Press Carole Scott , 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Jeunesse : Young People, Texts, Culture , Summer vol. 2 no. 1 2010; (p. 203-222)

'As I delved into the box of books that arrived from Canadian publisher Simply Read, I was immediately impressed by the wide variety I found. Not only were the books of all sizes, shapes, formats, and designs, they also spanned multiple genres and audiences. Primarily picture books or illustrated books, they included board books for very young readers, books with edgy and often philosophical humour, classics with striking new illustrations, books with historical and/or cultural implications, and mysterious books exploring the surreal and twisting perspective. The company's website makes a commitment to quality productions in text and graphics, noting its intent to produce "contemporary books with a modern appearance and fresh outlook" and stories "that link the past with the present" ("About Us"). As Perry Nodelman had promised when he invited me to review this innovative press, I found many works that are graphically startling and inventive, and many that are thoughtful and provocative, involving complex messages regarding human values and philosophical perspectives. The more accessible books for younger children have bright visuals and evocative language and sounds, and many are educational in various ways. It is not surprising that the books have garnered a significant number of awards and honourable mentions from across the world.' (Introduction)

Awards

1998 shortlisted Ditmar Awards Best Artwork For Shaun Tan's illustrations.
1998 joint winner CBCA Book of the Year Awards CBCA Award for New Illustrator Won by Shaun Tan for the illustrations.
Last amended 5 Apr 2023 16:14:57
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