Viewfinder - by Christine D U Chung & Salwa Majoka (Hardcover)

About the Book

"After visiting Earth on a whim, a young space traveler finds a planet empty of people. She happens upon a strange contraption that shows her images of what the planet used to be like, and through this viewfinder, we see Earth as it was juxtaposed against Earth as it is: abandoned by people, but still full of amazing things. A wordless adventure with a subtle message about stewardship."--

Book Synopsis

A young space traveler happens upon Earth in the future in this gorgeous wordless adventure for fans of Shaun Tan. A transportive graphic novel for ages 6 to 9, perfect for Earth Day.

A young space traveler visits Earth on a whim and finds a planet empty of people. She happens upon a strange contraption that contains images of what the planet used to be like, and using this viewfinder, she sees Earth as it was, juxtaposed against Earth as it is: abandoned, but still full of amazing things.

Her adventure takes her to a museum full of hints about the planet's past and the strange glowing mushrooms that grow everywhere, a library that has become home to a variety of zoo animals, and a beautiful but crumbling space station from which she makes a daring escape. As she wanders, though, she sees signs that perhaps there is still someone here. A time capsule, a friendly cat and a makeshift railcar all add to the mystery . . . is she really alone?

The lush and captivating art and subtle nod to stewardship in this wordless graphic novel will draw readers in and leave them with a renewed sense of wonder for the resilient and extraordinary place we call home.

Review Quotes

A 2024 American Library Association Best Graphic Novels for Children Selection
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2024
Selected by School Libray Journal for their Best Science Fiction Books for Kids list
A Golden Duck Notable Picture Books List Pick
One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens for 2024
A 2025 Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
A Bank Street Children's Book Committee Monthly Pick for November 2024
A New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids 2024
An OLA Best Bet
A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year, 2024

"Beautiful and precisely depicted, a gentle, generous reflection on civilization and community life." --STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"Striking a balance between whimsical adventure and wistful contemplation, this title underscores the beauty and fragility of life on our planet. A first purchase for youth graphic novel collections." --STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"[A] surprising and touching tale of what it means to find home." --STARRED REVIEW, Shelf Awareness

"Juxtaposing sepia scenes of the lost world with dream-like colors of nature reclaiming places once bustling with people, Chung and Majoka craft an awe-inspiring adventure tinged with a melancholy sense of loss that imparts a gentle warning to safeguard the planet." --Publishers Weekly

"Young readers will be transported by this sensitive and imaginative take on the evolution of our planet's ecosystem." --Booklist

"Chung and Majoka's consummate environmental artistry combined with the quietly revelatory storytelling results in a tranquil, thoughtful read for middle graders hoping to make first contact with environmental activism." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A luminous, thought-provoking adventure." --The Horn Book

About the Author

CHRISTINE (DIỄM UYÊN) CHUNG is a Vietnamese-Canadian artist who works on storyboards for animated TV and feature films by day and sketches up the plans for another world by night. She is interested in stories that live in the space between our connection to our planet, our communities and to ourselves -- striving to find collective triumph in our darkest of places. Christine lives in Toronto, Canada, with her family --and a few blocks away from her childhood friend Salwa. Viewfinder is her debut book.

SALWA MAJOKA is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator and 2D artist for the animation industry. She has worked on both TV cartoons and in film with a focus on painting and color design -- the two things she enjoys the most about visual storytelling. Salwa has a special love and curiosity for the many marvels of the natural world, outer space and the deep sea, which often find their way into her work. She has known her co-author, Christine, since middle school, and this is her first book. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her family.