Genre 1 - Picture Books

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures by Brian Selznick
1. Bibliography
Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures. Scholastic Press: New York.
ISBN 978-0-439-81378-5
Dewey Classification: Fiction
Reading Level: 5.2

2. Summary
Orphaned Hugo, finds himself in his own mystery to discover, not only what message his father left him through an automaton, but what kind of person he is meant to be. Through his quest to make the automaton reveal the lost message, he learns how resourceful he can be. He meets a young girl and her grandfather that change his whole outlook. The things he discovers by unveiling the mysteries reveal what he has been looking for - family.

3. Critical Analysis
Through words and pictures, Brian Selznick tells a remarkable story of a boy that secretly lives behind the walls of the train station. He learns to take care of himself, how to receive help and to become the honest person he could be. The intricate pencil drawn pictures not only enhance the story, they also tell part of the story. The depth of detail that is put into the picture tells part of the story without words. The mysterious automaton's message is what drives this character (Hugo) to steal, work for what he wants and needs, and finally learn how to trust.

4. Reviews
Texas Blubonnet Award Book 2008- 2009
Caldecott Award Winner - 2008
Horn Book starred (September, 2007)
Over a sequence of twenty-one double-page wordless, illustrated spreads, a story begins. The tale that follows is a lively one, involving the dogged Hugo, his ally Isabelle, an automaton that can draw pictures, and a stage magician turned filmmaker. The interplay between the illustrations and text is complete genius, and themes of secrets, dreams, and invention play lightly but resonantly throughout.

School Library Journal (March 1, 2007)
"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...." -Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

5. Connections
Idea: Have students tell a story through pictures (that they draw or find) and words.
The Boy of a Thousand Faces by Brian Selznick. New York : Laura Geringer Books, 2000.
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick. Texas: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991.
http://suzyred.com/2008hugo.html
B. Selznick interview on Scholastic.com:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=185&FullBreadCrumb=%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.scholastic.com%2Fbrowse%2Fsearch%2F%3Fquery%3DSelznick%26Ntt%3DSelznick%26Ntk%3DSCHL30_SI%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchallpartial%26N%3D0%26_N%3Dfff%22+class%3D%22endecaAll%22%3EAll+Results%3C%2Fa%3E

Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City by Janet Schulman
1. Bibliography
Schulman, Janet. 2008. Pale Male;Citizen Hawk of New York City. Ill. Meilo So. New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
ISBN 978-037-584558-1
Dewey Classification: 598.9
Reading Level: 5.8

2. Summary
This heart-warming story of Pale Male, the red-tailed hawk, is told through the eyes of the observant bird watchers of New York City. The people of this city watched the bird find a mate, build nests (one that was destroyed by the building owners) and become a father. This book shows the love of animals in this busy metropolis through this one bird's story.

3. Critical Analysis
The watercolor and pencil drawings in this picture book not only enhance the storyline, but also tell part of the story by giving examples of what the author is talking about. Even though this story is written at a higher reading level, the illustrations help the reader to comprehend the story. When I first saw the title of this book, I had no idea how interesting it would turn out to be. The story catches your attention and guides you through the life of the now famous hawk, Pale Male.

4. Reviews
Texas Bluebonnet Award Book 2009-2010
Booklist starred (February 15, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 12))
"...The stunning watercolor-and-pencil illustrations are both whimsical and elegant, and their beautiful contrasting views of the bird soaring above the wild park and the forest of skyscrapers will ignite children’s curiosity in both urban animals and the caring people who help protect them. ..."
Horn Book (March/April, 2008)
"... Narrating in an admirably easygoing and lucid style, Schulman tells Pale Male's story in greater detail (including, for instance, an earlier, aborted nesting attempt and the loss of his first mate), seamlessly integrating it into the context of other city life, animal and human. Though she describes the avid bird watchers and the affection for the hawks that seems to have been shared by all save the building's owners, her primary focus is on the birds themselves,..."

5. Connections

Idea: Have students research information, pictures, descendants of Pale Male.

Birds of Central Park, text and photographs by Cal Vornberger. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2005.

The Tale of Pale Male : A True Story by Jeanette Winter. New York: Harcourt, 2007.

http://suzyred.com/2009-pale-male.html

http://www.palemale.com/

Talking With Artists: conversations with Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner
compiled and edited by Pat Cummings.

1. Bibliography
Cummings, Pat. 1992. Talking With Artists. New York, New York: Macmillan.
ISBN 0-02-724245-5

Dewey Classification: 920 CUM

Reading Level: 5.9
2. Summary

Pat Cummings interviews 14 illustrators/artists (including herself) in this informative book about their lives, choices and homes. The cleverly written answer and question format that repeats for each person makes the reader look to see how each person answers the same questions. The background information on each illustrator explains how each person grew up and how they started in the art world. Children of all ages will find this book informative and inspiring.

3. Critical Analysis

This unique form of question and answer highlights the artists and illustrators for this book. The reader learns about the motivation behind what drives each artist to continue and what sparked their interest to begin. The photographs and the illustrations enhance the information given to give the reader a well-rounded sense of who each person really is. Pat Cummings includes herself as one of the highlighted artisits for this book. She formats the book in way that makes it intersting to students by answering questions they would want to ask.

4. Reviews

Texas Bluebonnet Award Book 1993 - 1994

School Library Journal

Conversations with Victoria Chess, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner form the content of this book. All say that ``practice, practice, practice'' is the key to success. ... The cumulative result is a short course in how to succeed in the book business, and general agreement that illustration is a tremendously satisfying and enjoyable occupation. Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children's literature has become central to the curriculum. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Publishers Weekly

In this wide-ranging survey, 14 talented illustrators talk about their childhoods, their work and their daily routines. The broad cross-section includes Caldecott medalists (Chris Van Allsburg, David Wiesner), women (Amy Schwartz, Victoria Chess, Lois Ehlert) and African Americans (Leo Dillon, Jerry Pinkney). Brief autobiographical statements precede interviews that touch on both personal and professional concerns--working conditions, pets, business associates. Each subject is represented by one or two samples of his or her current work and one childhood piece, usually a real charmer. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

5. Connections

Idea: Have students interview famous "artists" in their school, using the same questions/format as presented in the book.

Talking With Artists Volume 2 by Pat Cummings. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995.

Talking with artists. Volume three :conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis, Paul O. Zelinsky compiled and edited by Pat Cummings. Missouri :Clarion, 1999.