The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Author: Brian Selznick
Illustrator: Brian Selznick
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 2007
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2008).
Ages: 9-12
Topics: graphic novel, mystery, orphans, Paris, France, Europe, mechanical toys, historical fiction, automata, robots
Summary: While secretly living in the walls of a Paris train station in the 1930s, young Hugo's life becomes connected to a young girl and old man who run a toy booth in the station. The engaging mystery told through both pictures and words includes a notebook, key, drawing, and a mechanical man left by Hugo's dead father.

Book Connections

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Official Website
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret from NPR
  Audio interview of the author about the book includes interview, book reading, and illustrations from the book.
• Brain Selznick from the Today Show (video)
  Video transcript, information, illustration and interview
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret from Expanded Books
  Video interview about the book
• The Invention of Hugo Cabret from Wikipedia
  Background information

Topic Connections

Early Films

• A Trip to the Moon - 1902 Film by George Melies from Wikipedia
  • A Trip to the Moon - 1902 Film (video from Internet Archive)
  • A Trip to the Moon - 1902 Film (video from Google Videos)
• Safety Last with Harold Lloyd from Wikipedia
• Harold Lloyd from Wikipedia
• Harold Lloyd - Official Website

George Melies (pronounced mel-YEZ)

• George Melies from The Invention of Hugo Cabret website
• George Melies from Wikipedia
• George Melies from IMDB
  Provides a list of his films

Paris, France

• Author's Trip to France from The Invention of Hugo Cabret website
• Old Movies of Paris from The Invention of Hugo Cabret website
• Train wreck at the Gare Montparnasse in 1895
• Photo of the Train Wreck

Robots, Automata, Mechanical Figures

• Automata from The Invention of Hugo Cabret website
• Maillardet's Automaton from Franklin Institute
• Devices of Wonder from Getty
• Automata and Automation from Wikipedia

Remy Carlip

• Remy Carlip from The Invention of Hugo Cabret website
• Remy Carlip from 10 Speed Press

Learning Connections

• Have Fun. Try the interactive activities at the Scholastic The Invention of Hugo Cabret website. Use the EXPLORE Hugo Cabret tab to learn more.
• Silent Movies. The author envisions his book being read like a silent movie. Use PowerPoint to create your own silent movie animation.
• A Movie. Check out an article in Variety about the book becoming a movie. Write about the actors you'd like to see in the film.
• Remy Carlip. The illustrator used Remy Carlip as inspiration for the drawing of George Melies. Compare the two people. Invent a character using a real person for inspiration. Draw a visual and write a character sketch or short story.
• Fact or Fiction. Create a list of those things that are fact and fiction in the story. Use photos to compare the real places and things to the story and illustrations.
• Characters. The illustrator looks at the world around him for characters. Read Models to see how he found the characters for this book. Invent your own characters. Who will be the inspiration for your drawings?
• Picture Graphic Novel Book. Is this a picture book, illustrated book, or graphic novel? A growing number of authors and illustrators are integrating more visuals into their work. Read Diary of a Wimpy Kid or The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. How are illustrations used in these books? How are they like and unlike The Invention of Hugo Cabret?

Teaching Connections

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Official Scholastic Site

Learn More

Do a Thinkfinity search for lessons related to this book.

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