The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Winner of the Caldecott Medal for Best Picture Book for Children

One look at this unusual book makes it clear – this is not for young children. At 525 pages, it might even challenge a teen reader. About half image and half words, the book almost defies description. It is not truly a picture book nor graphic novel, but uses pictures in the way one might imagine a film unfolding, with layered dialogue and image, conveying story and emotional context. The film concept is intentional, and this European-styled story of an orphaned boy living in a train station is engaging, if not rather unusual. Based on historical events and characters, the story of Hugo is one of small mysteries -- a time when the mechanical and the magical blended in the minds of people -- before the great wars and technology changed everything. The book was enjoyable on many levels and will be interesting to a wide variety of readers if they can get past its size to pick it up. Make sure to read the acknowledgements and go to the website where you can see a real automaton at work.