The Invention Of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Written By Brian Selznick

Illustrations by Brian Selznick

Published by Scholastic 2007

Awards: 2008 Caldecott Medal, National Book Award Finalist

Summary:

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is an exciting story of a boy named Hugo and his quest to find the hidden message from his father through a mechanical man. Living in the walls of a Paris train station and surviving off of stolen goods, Hugo manages to fix the machine and unveil details about the past. Along the way, Hugo meets new friends and continues to find clues about the meaning behind the message. This novel is beautifully illustrated and written, and Brian Selznick describes it best as watching a “silent movie.” Readers are able to follow Hugo through pictures and drawing on his journey to find answers.

Exciting. Heartwarming. Beautiful. Mysterious. Intricate.

Grade Level: 3-7

Interest Level: 5

Lexile Measure: 820L

Description: Fiction

Suggested Delivery: Independent

Key Vocabulary:

·      Automaton- a mechanism that can move independently

·      Invention- something that was created by and individual

·      Scavenge- collect discarded or refused material

·      Decrepit- worn and broken down

·      Intricate- having many complex parts; elaborate

·      Makeshift- done or made using whatever is available

Electronic Resources:

http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm

This is an interactive website that gives more information about Brian Selznick and the novel. Students can click on hidden links on the book cover to explore and find more information about the book.

http://www.scholastic.com/hugocabret/

Scholastic provides a great webpage that gives readers their own notebook, and allows them to search Hugo’s bedroom to learn and create more. This website brings many details about the book to life, and is fun and easy to use.

Teaching Suggestions: The link below is filled with lesson plans and extended information about the book.

http://librarysparks.com/pdf/librarysparks/2008/lsp_nov08_LL_hugo_cabret.pdf

Before: The vocabulary in this novel is slightly complex so discussing the key vocabulary words, such as automaton, before reading will help the students better with comprehension during reading.

During: Having a fishbowl discussion with the entire class while reading the book will help students discuss what they have read. During this activity students will work on speaking and listening, along with using proper academic language to respond in the discussion. This benefits the whole class because each person gets a chance to share their ideas and to feed off of each other.

After: The class can research together the real Georges Méliès and learn more about him and some of his work that was mention in the book, such as A Trip to the Moon.

Writing Activity: Pretend you were Brian Selznick. What message would you have made the automaton write to Hugo? Who would it be from? What would it mean? Why?