Google. Images. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=hugo+cabret+pictures&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title (accessed September 16, 2008).BIBLIOGRAPHY
Selznick, Brian. 2007. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439813786
PLOT SUMMARY
Brian Selznick writes the story through the point of view of an orphan, Hugo Cabret, living in a Paris train station in 1931. Hugo finds himself in the middle of a mystery that involves his dead father, an automaton, a toy booth owner and his goddaughter, and a heart-shaped key that can unlock the mysterious wonder of the automaton. By following and deciphering clues, Hugo unveils events that will change his life and the life of others forever.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Selznick's writing is powerful and insightful. The reader, through his words, is able to transport himself to the main character's era and is able to feel the uncertainty, the wonder and amazement that Hugo feels. Hugo Cabret discovers new "talents" and feelings as the story progresses, and the reader does the same thing through his eyes and thoughts. The writer combines very eloquently fact and fiction by allowing the reader to learn about the birth of the motion picture era while living a fictional adventure through Hugo Cabret. As Hugo turns the pages of a reference book while trying to solve a mystery, the reader learns that "Georges Melies began his career as a magician and he owned a theater of magic in Paris." Selznick weaves fact and fiction magically in his novel.
Selznick's amazing story does not stop at words. He's story transcends words to the magical pictures he created for the novel. He drew the pictures using pencil on Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper. Even when no color is present, all pictures are black and white, the reader misses nothing and gains a lot from the detail picture that come to life as the pages are turned. Selznick is successful in telling the story through his pictures. When the words stop telling the story, the pictures continue to do so very seamlessly. The details of every drawing tell the emotions of the characters and events of the story so eloquently. When looking at Hugo's eyes on the drawings, the reader can almost wage that he is seeing the eyes of a living child. Selznick proves that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Personally, the novel was enthralling and captivating. I had a difficult time putting down the book once I started it. I read every word and admired every picture telling me the story. I wanted to know more and more about Hugo and all the characters that surrounded him. As the story unfolded, I could see that terrible, along with wonderful, events where at every turn of the story. I enjoyed the sections where the story was told through the pictures. I devoured every detail so as not to miss any clues that would take me to understand what Hugo was going through and discovering. In my opinion, the downfall of the book was that it had to end. I wanted it to keep going and keep living through Hugo.
It is a wonderful book in which I kept making connections with other masterpieces such as the Harry Potter series. In a very simple way, but yet very palpable way, Hugo and Harry seem to be alike. Both of them orphans and unveiling mysteries surrounding them make them alike, but of course, both in their own unique way as done by their creators. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a novel that can be enjoyed by young and old and those that love mysterious adventures coupled with beautiful pictures that tell a story through every detail.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review in The Horn Book: "Complete genius."
Starred review in School Library Journal: "Shatters conventions."
CONNECTIONS
Some more books illustrated by Brian Selznick are The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins which is a Caldecott Honor book, Walt Whitman: Words for America which is a New York Times Best Illustrated, and When Marian Sang which is a Sibert Honor winner.
A book and website that give more information about George Melies are Before Hollywood: From Shadow Play to the Silver Screen and http://www.missinglinkclassichorror.co.uk/index.htm.
About the creation of children's picture books...
Google. Images. http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=side+by+side+five+favorite+picture-book+teams&btnG=Search+Images (accessed September 15, 2008)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marcus, Leonard S. 2001. Side by Side Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work. New York: Walker Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 0802787789
PLOT SUMMARY
Leonard Marcus writes about five teams of collaborators who created timeless children's books. In his own easygoing style, Marcus reveals the stories of these collaborators that allow the readers to learn how teamwork played an important role in the creation of such books as Louis the Fish, Sam and the Tigers, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses and The Glorious Flight. The writers is successful in entertaining while educating its audience about the roots of each book and how the collaborators were able to support each other while still giving space for a personal touch.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The author, Leonard Marcus, takes into the lives and thoughts of five teams of children's books collaborators. He manages to tell the readers how each book came to live in terms of the story line and the illustrations. The readers find themselves looking at early sketches of the books as well as handwritten editing by the hand of the authors. Marcus does a stupendous job in narrating the sometimes funny ways in which this collaborators came to work together. This being the case of Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski in which one recognized the other as a person being recommended by a professor to illustrate his stories. In terms of Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen, Joanna was intrigued about illustrating a science-related book that would be written, by Degen, in a lighter approach from the norm of nonficiton books. And just like that, Marcus' book continues to tell unusual anecdotes about these collaborators of children's books.
By the time the reader realizes it, the book has been completed with much entertainment and great facts about how great authors and illustrators have worked together to give their audiences unforgettable books. The pictures in the book give great insight as to what the collaborators were trying to convey to their audiences. The book includes pictures of authors and illustrators, covers of the famous books, copies of notebook papers with handwritten notes, and even some pictures of where the collaborators' homes. Overall, it is a great book that gets into the minds of the collaborators and lets the readers be part of that world that sometimes the public sees as unimaginable such as the world of writers.
This is a great book to share with children since it will give them the notion of how writers and illustrators work together to create stories and pictures that become timeless. Also, it gives them an insight of how the writing and illustrating process is something that takes time, and it is perfected as the work starts taking shape. Although it can be a great book for older children, the vocabulary is not simple enough for younger audiences. It can be shared with them, but it cannot be independent reading material for them.
As a school librarian, I do feel it is a "must see" for teachers, so they can learn and share the wonderful process of writing and illustrating a book with their students.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review in Publishers Weekly "Insights into the inner workings of bookmaking."
Starred review in Booklist "Inviting . . . well-written and beautifully designed."
CONNECTIONS
Other books by Leonard S. Marcus are A Caldecott Celebration which also received starred reviews, 75 Years of Children's Book Week Posters, and Author Talk.
The link to Marcus S. Leonard's website: http://www.leonardmarcus.com/index.html
A children's book illustrated by Betsy Lewin...
Google. Images. http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&q=duck+for+president (accessed September 15, 2008)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cronin, Doreen. 2004. Duck for President. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN 0439671442.
PLOT SUMMARY
Cronin’s story is an entertaining narration of an unhappy Duck with his duties at Farmer Brown’s farm. He decides to have an election to see who will run the farm. Of course, Duck wins and quickly realizes running the farm is no easy chore. In search of an easier job, he runs for governor and then for president winning both elections. Again, he comes to the crude realization that holding those offices is no easy task. As he checked the help-wanted ads, he sees a duck is needed at the farm. Duck goes back to the farm, but Farmer Brown is still running the farm (which is not an easy job) while Duck is busy writing his autobiography. Of course, the first line of his autobiography reads “Running a farm is very hard work.”
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The comical tone of the book written by Doreen Cronin is well supported by the illustrator Betsy Lewin. The funny and detailed pictures done in brush and watercolor give the story the right touch to convey the feelings of the characters. The frustration, desolation, disdain, surprise, or contentness, among other feelings, felt by the characters can repeatedly be seen and felt throughout the storyline and pictures. Lewin does a very good job in capturing the feeling of the story along with the funniness. The story is enjoyable and the humorous pictures make it much more so for the readers.
A weakness of the story is tha the voting process is very basic, and many aspects of it are left out. The reader of the story will understand about majority votes but not the authentic and intricate process of voting. Even though the book deals much with elections and voting, I think the underlying message of the story goes back to "the grass isn't always greener on the other side." After going through three elections, Duck finally realizes this lesson. Duck for President is a great children's book that can easily be just enjoyed or analyzed for deeper meaning.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in School Library Journal "Betsy Lewin's comical watercolors with bold black outlines come to life in this fully animated production."
Review in Library Media Collection "...clever, humorous story...full of puns..."
CONNECTIONS
Other books illustrated by Betsy Lewin:
Click, Clack, Moo; Cows That Type
Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Quack
Click Clack, Quackity-Quack
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