Book Summary: The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about a young boy whose father teaches him how to repair clocks. After his father’s death, Hugo goes to live with his uncle, an alcoholic man who keeps the clocks in the train station running. After his uncle’s disappearance, Hugo continues to keep the train station clocks running, but begins to steal in order to feed himself and repair the one item he still has from his father - a mechanical man (automaton). Hugo’s entire existence revolves around two things - not being discovered and fixing the mechanical man. During his quest, he meets Georges, the cantankerous toy merchant with a secret, Isabella, an orphan who lives with Georges and his wife Jeanne, and Etienne, a film student and friend of Isabella’s. In the end, Hugo goes to live with Georges, Jeanne, and Isabella, and all three attend a retrospective of Geroges’ films hosted by the Film Academy and put together by Etienne and his teacher.
My Impressions: I loved this book. The story stays engaging by keeping a quick pace, and the illustrations move the story forward just as much as the words. The book is divided into two sections. At the end of the first section, the author explains that while the story could end here, one beginning always springs from an ending; at this point Part 2 begins with both a continuation of the old story, and a new adventure for Hugo.
The illustrations compliment the story nicely, and I can see why they won the Caldecott Medal. The drawings are detailed and show the emotions of the characters, but what I really like about them is how well the illustrations help to move the story along. The illustrations never occur as just one picture by themselves; it is almost like they are a mini flip book in-between the pages of a novel. A wonderful example of this is the sequence of drawings that show Hugo running from the station inspector. The pictures show him first escaping, next running down a corridor, then trying to escape into a crowd, and finally being recaptured. With each page turn the intensity of the escape builds.
While I enjoyed both the story and illustrations, I loved the fact that this is a historical fiction novel. I truly believe that one of the best ways to engage students in history (a subject which my students frequently remind me that they find boring) is to tell them interesting stories from the past. Much of what is described in this book is true - Georges Méliès was a French filmmaker prior to World War I, many of his films were believed to be lost as they had been melted down to recover the silver in the celluloid, and Georges really did sell toys in a train station in the 1930’s. This book contains stills from his films that survived and sketches of scenes from some that didn’t. The use of mixed media - the illustrations and then actual photographs, help show the difference between what actually happened (the films) and fiction (the overall story).
Professional Review:
Gr 4-9-With characteristic intelligence, exquisite images, and a breathtaking design, Selznick shatters conventions related to the art of bookmaking in this magical mystery set in 1930s Paris. He employs wordless sequential pictures and distinct pages of text to let the cinematic story unfold, and the artwork, rendered in pencil and bordered in black, contains elements of a flip book, a graphic novel, and film. It opens with a small square depicting a full moon centered on a black spread. As readers flip the pages, the image grows and the moon recedes. A boy on the run slips through a grate to take refuge inside the walls of a train station-home for this orphaned, apprentice clock keeper. As Hugo seeks to accomplish his mission, his life intersects with a cantankerous toyshop owner and a feisty girl who won't be ignored. Each character possesses secrets and something of great value to the other. With deft foreshadowing, sensitively wrought characters, and heart-pounding suspense, the author engineers the elements of his complex plot: speeding trains, clocks, footsteps, dreams, and movies-especially those by Georges Melies, the French pioneer of science-fiction cinema. Movie stills are cleverly interspersed. Selznick's art ranges from evocative, shadowy spreads of Parisian streets to penetrating character close-ups. Leaving much to ponder about loss, time, family, and the creative impulse, the book closes with a waning moon, a diminishing square, and informative credits. This is a masterful narrative that readers can literally manipulate.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
Library Uses: Unfortunately, I think this book is too long for a librarian to make use of the entire story, but I believe that something could be done in conjunction with a class that is reading this book. The class that I see this being used most in is English; a quick glance at Wikipedia lists many people that Georges Méliés either influenced or was influenced by. A librarian could pull this list of names and then help the students learn research techniques by teaching them how to find more information on the person of their choosing. Then the students could write their own story of the person that they researched and Georges meeting. Additionally, a book display could be set up showcasing George Méliés work.
References:
Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret. Newy York, New York: Scholastic Press
Lukehart, W. (2007) [Review of the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by B. Selnick]. School Library Journal, 53 (3) Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com
Lon Po Po: A Red Riding
Hood Story from China by Ed Young
Summary: Lon Po Po
is a retelling of Little Red set in China. In this story the mother goes to visit Lon Po Po’s
grandmother. While the mother is
gone a wolf comes to the house pretending to be Lon’s grandmother. Lon Po Po becomes suspicious and
convinces her sisters to help her get rid of the wolf. The next day Lon Po Po’s mother comes
home with their real grandmother.
My Impressions: I
liked how it was possible to still see the story of Little Red Riding Hood
through the various changes. For
example, instead of Little Red traveling through the woods and being discovered
by the wolf, the wolf comes to “Little Red” (Lon Po Po). I think it’s interesting to see how
these stories have been adapted and changed in other cultures. I like that Lon Po Po is actually
written by someone who grew up in China as opposed to someone simply creating a
version of the fairytale and setting it there.
Review: Gr 1-5 - A gripping variation on Red Riding Hood that involves three little sisters who outsmart the wolf (lon or long in Cantonese) who has gained entry to their home under the false pretense of being their maternal grandmother (Po Po). The clever animal blows out the candle before the children can see him, and is actually in bed with them when they start asking the traditional "Why, Grandma!" questions. The eldest realizes the truth and tricks the wolf into letting them go outside to pick gingko nuts, and then lures him to his doom. The text possesses that matter-of-fact veracity that characterizes the best fairy tales. The watercolor and pastel pictures are remarkable; mystically beautiful in their depiction of the Chinese countryside, menacing in the exchange with the wolf, and positively chilling in the scenes inside the house. Overall, this is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again. - John Philbrook, San Francisco Pub. Lib.
Library Uses: I
think this would be a great book to read to students (along with a version of
Little Red) and then have the students draw their favorite character. Or this book could be used around the
Chinese New Year and be used to introduce students to China.
References:
Young, E. (1989). Lon po po: A red riding hood story from China. London, England: Philomel Books
Philbrook, J. (1989) [Review of the book Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story From China by E. Young]. School Library Journal, 35 (16) Retrieved from www.schoollibraryjournal.com
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