Inspiring Young Readers

posted on 28 Jun 2026

What if there were no Humans on Earth? by Rumin Wu

As we begin another sweltering heatwave, which we know is directly linked to the increase in global warming, this unusual picture book by this Taiwan based author/ illustrator seems particularly relevant.

The opening page explains that the Earth has been deserted by humans who have migrated to Mars in massive spaceships, leaving all the wild animals behind. This is a great opening that immediately grabbed the attention of my seven year old grandson. We were stunned by the first double page spread that shows people boarding a spaceship because ‘the desert is already creeping into the city.’

The colours are muted and the figures lack definition which contributes to the doom-laden atmosphere. My grandson commented that people didn’t look very excited about the impending trip. Her depiction of a parade of animals plodding along through a bleak landscape set against a hot looking sky was also powerful. We liked the shift in perspective from above as they entered the abandoned city and wondered how they would adjust to a very different environment.

The joy of this story lies in the subsequently hopeful expressions on the faces of each animal as they explore the roads, look for food and search through the rubbish bins. When they reach the city zoo, they realise that the animals inside look very hungry. We wondered if they might be tempted to release them from captivity, and if so, how? What follows is a delightfully imaginative partnership that involves all of the animals working together to build a harmonious future. Without any foolish humans around any more, the message is that they might just survive by helping one another, recycling clothes and other materials, and looking after nature so that they can ‘become the new citizens of the world.’

This is an important book with minimal text and detailed illustrations that work together to fully engage the reader. I note that one of Wu’s favourite illustrators is Shaun Tan, who is a master of this technique. There is also along a strong message about taking responsibility and the importance of community:

‘Without humans, step by step the earth begins recovering by itself. Remember, we only have one planet!’

I can see it being used in classrooms to provoke interesting discussion as well as producing artwork inspired by the beautiful illustrations.

I recommend this important picture book published by Tiny Tree Books. It should be available in your local independent bookshop, who will happily order you a copy if not already on the shelves.

 

Karen Argent

June 2026