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For example, why read a chase scene when, by turning pages, you can watch it instead. I saw this one at my boys' school library, was intrigued, and went out and bought a copy. An avid reader since childhood, I now use the fact that I have kids as a convenient excuse to read children's books. The story combines archetypal elements of adolescent fiction (a lonely orphan with prodigious gifts solving a mystery involving a reclusive old man) with ideas and images that struck me as fresh and new (the setting in a Paris train station, a curious automaton, and films from the dawn of their creation). I found the book to be a delightfully different experience. The combination of prose with pictures was a nice change and caused the pacing of the book to be more breathless and exciting. The book was a page-turner that I devoured quickly and immediately recommended to my kids. Pick up this book for a refreshingly different and very enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed the bit of historical fiction included about Georges Melies and it helped me appreciate the story that much more. I was really impressed.
What a magical story. I've spent the past couple of weeks reading this book to my 6- and 7-year-old boys at bedtime.
This was the very first book that captivated him and had him begging me to read to him. All three of us enjoyed it immensely.
Of special note: My 6-year-old has never enjoyed read-aloud time much at all (though my 7-year-old has enjoyed it since birth). The book is quite long (although the majority of it is told in pictures) and I was sure he would lose interest along the way but he didn't.
I highly recommend this as a wonderful family book.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BOOKS MY SON HAS TO READ FOR THE SUMMER. VERY INTERESTING STORY AND GREAT ILLUSTRATIONS.
I bought this book after reading the suggestions of the previous book I finished. This book tugs at your heartstrings, showers you with excitement , action, adventure and a lot of heart. You will not be able to put it down and you will be captivated by the artwork. I was so right. One of the reviews I read for this book said something like this,that I think is so very ture "It combins elements of a picture book, part graphic novel and part slient film" I hope that you choose to go on a reading experience of a lifetime. I fell in love with this book after the first page. I thought it seemed magical and that it would be a good read. This is a book for any visionary or child at heart.
I read it from cover to cover in a day. Now, I am not a person who finishes books of this length in a super short time but, I just couldn't put it down. Let me say this; I will never give this book away, the art is to magnificant and adds so much to this book. Please give this unique gem a chance.
Selznick has no children, or is not very connected with them if he does. George Melies in particular was portrayed in a way that was both vague and disturbing, as if Mr. Along with the piece itself, there was a video that showed it in operation and examples of all 7 of it's poems and drawings. My daughter and I finished the book for the sole reason that we wanted to know how it ended. When they did so, the original writing instrument was found.
I'm a collector of children's books and the parent of avid readers, one of whom will read anything with science in it and the other who will read anything historical. It is clear he did research and plan the book, quite well, in fact. The basic story isn't terrible, even with the cheap trick of killing off the boy's parents - a pet peeve I have with children's books. Selznick thought he might have a mental illness, but wasn't sure which one, so he merely hinted at a number of them. This automata is not made by George Melies (he destroyed his) but by a Swiss man named Maillardet. I hesitated to buy the cd for this reason but ended up glad I didn't have to be put off by the distractingly amateurish drawings. Even with this flaw, the story was both meaty and juicy.
One month after reading the book my family went on vacation to Philadelphia, and while visiting the Franklin Institute, we turned a corner and came face to face with THE automata from the book. Selznick wrote a long book with a potentially complex story, and the publisher set an age range ( 9-12) to fit that. I became eager to find and see this piece for myself. Indeed, when I watched the bonus DVD I found myself fixated on how the children's noses changed in every picture.
When we came home, I found videos about the automata AND Mr. It seemed to go on forever, and although the author suggested tantalizing possibilities of so many places it might go, it never followed any of these leads - instead it merely fizzled. Actually, here is where he somewhat redeems himself. So how did the final product end up being a pile of dry bones.
The three stars I give this book are not for the writing, but for introducing the world to the story of Melies and this automata. I watched the bonus DVD that came with the cds in hopes Mr. And if they were, why weren't they done in sketchbook style, as if done by Melies.I suspect Mr. Selznick for actually ruining a potentially first class book. I gasped. They, BTW, were 13 and 17, but have always enjoyed books for all ages. Mr. One sentence in, we all had a visceral reaction that prompted this conversation: "Ewwww, who is reading this.
Why on earth were shaded pencil sketches chosen to drive such a (potentially) exciting story. Seznick would show it, and tell where it can be found now. He reads as much more childish - perhaps 9. Apparently the museum allowed him to thoroughly examine the automata. What age is it written for.""9-12""He makes him sound a lot younger"A short while later it was:"The sound affects are distracting and affected. What was particularly disappointing to me was that I researched George Melies after we finished the book, and discovered he as a real person, who really made automata, and also that the automata described in the book is not only real, it is the most advanced example ever discovered.
I have ordered that book and hope it delivers what this did not. I myself kind of liked them but my kids did not. I blame the editor of this piece as much as I blame Mr. I'm also a doll carver, and am fascinated with joints and mechanics; especially automata. My 17 yo son dropped out 1/4 of the way through. The effect the illustrations had on me was to make the story even drier and dustier. The cover of the book is a good example of his inventive style.
So what happened - perhaps he planned so much that it killed the story. Nope. Mr. Perhaps he even would include swoon) video of it. Their voice is SO patronizing.""The author okayed this." "The author is the one reading this." "Huh. He also gets marks for describing his process in a useful, albeit boring, way. I am familiar with Brian Selznick's illustrations, and love them. Selznick on YouTube, and after that on Selznick's own website http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_hugo_auto.htm.
Just a dry description of how he came to write the book. Was he uncomfortable with telling the true story, so he made up one that was very much a lesser version. Fine, if so, but there are far better, less intrusive ways to write one in. When I read a review of this book it sounded wonderful, so I bought it on CD and we listened together. but he supposedly was able to restore the world's most complicated automata with parts stolen from a toy shop. His character never reads like a 12 year old. Did he feel the story required a boy.
The best tidbits of the book - including many avenues Mr. Selznick never explored, turn out to be real parts of the story. I don't like them". However, the story is better suited to putting children of about 6 or 7 to sleep - and likely to nightmares, given that the only life in the book was relegated to dead parents, a drunk and missing uncle, homelessness, hunger, etc. Although this DVD is dry, it contains some valuable tips for young writers on how to research and plan a book. What serendipity. That disrespect for the *team* of *highly skilled* individuals who actually DID restore this machine, but took *4 years* to do so, really irked me.
Selznick says he got his original inspiration from Edison's Eve by Gaby Woods.
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