The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick JFIC

The scene is Paris, France 1929, Hugo Cabret, a twelve year old orphan and aspiring magician lives in the clock keeper's apartment at the train station with his uncle until he mysteriously disappears. Hugo must keep the clocks in the station in working order or he will surely be discovered and thereby thwart his secret project. What is his secret project you ask? Well, I'll give you a hint. While learning skills from his horologist (clockmaker) father before his death, Hugo is able to fix and create animated toys and trinkets. After he is caught stealing gears from a local toy shop, he finds he is mysteriously connected to the toy maker Papa Georges and their adopted daughter, Isabella. Despite this book's lengthy appearance, over 200 pages are black and white sketched illustrations that move the story along. This hybrid book was an amazing example of the use of pictures and text to create an entire image in the mind. This book is like a story with its mechanical parts all in working order. The credits in the back of the book were a wonderful addition that points you to real resources that inspired the book. To learn more about George Melies who inspired this book, go to http://www.mshepley.btinternet.co.uk/melies.htm For grades 3 and up.

Food for thought: "I address you all as you truly are: wizards, mermaids,travelers,adventurers, and magicians. You are the true dreamers" This was said by Papa Georges. What dreams of the future do you have?