Brian Selznick is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Award-winning book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was made into the Academy Award-nominated film Hugo. He’s also a recipient of one of the 2012 American Library Association Schneider Family Book Awards for his new book, Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Pictures. This award is given to writers of books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.
Selznick’s book is literally and visually breathtaking, as he weaves together two stories, each 50 years apart. Ben, a young, deaf boy living with his aunt in Flint, Mich., in 1977, has lost his mother. He must share a room with his cousin, Robby, a resentful bully.
Ben’s mother was the town librarian, and she had filled his mind with stories and books, especially about outer space. When Ben discovers clues to his father’s identity, he follows its trail to New York City and the American Museum of Natural History.
Alternating with Ben’s story is that of Rose, a young girl living in New York City in 1927. Her room is filled with models of skyscrapers from the New York skyline, and she’s fascinated by a famous actress from silent movies, about whom she keeps a scrapbook. Like Ben, Rose also follows clues about a loved one to the museum. She and Ben each take a remarkable journey that ultimately brings their stories together.
Unlike Ben’s story, which is told in words, Rose’s is relayed solely through Selznick’s exquisite pencil drawings. His illustrations are full of intricate details and symbolic intent, including the wondrous oddities the two children find in the museum. Young and adult readers will enjoy sharing this marvelous story while searching the images for clues and interpreting them as they relate to the two stories.
“What Kids are Reading” is a regular feature in the Sun, highlighting children’s books available for young readers in Santa Maria. This week’s recommendations are made by writer, educator, and grandmother Ariel Waterman.
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2012.
