Selznick, Brian. 2007. The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press. 

Twelve-year-old Hugo Cabret lives in the walls of a train station in Paris, where, unbeknownst to the stationmaster or the people moving through the station, he secretly repairs the clocks and keeps them in working order. Between working on the clocks, Hugo steals what he needs to survive and what he needs to work on his prize possession—an automaton that was discovered by his late father in the attic of the museum. When he is caught stealing toys that he needed to work on his project, Hugo’s secret takes on a life of its own when the history of the automaton comes to life with the help of Isabelle and Etienne, two characters he meets quite by accident. Brian Selznick’s incredible illustrations bring to mind early silent movies and the attention to detail in each of the one hundred and fifty-eight pictures add both depth and quality to his story. The pictures by Selznick are paired with actual photos of works by Georges Melies who appears as the unsung hero in the book. The black frame around each picture focuses readers’ attention on the exquisite detail in each drawing. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a classic in the making that will make readers of all ages and genders cheer for the underdog and will leave them smiling with an ending that celebrates each of the “twenty-six thousand one hundred and fifty-nine words” written by Selznick.