Invention of Hugo Cabret »

Among the many honors and prizes bestowed on children's book author and illustrator Brian Selznick is the coveted Caldecott Medal, awarded in 2008 for his remarkable tour de force The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

The New York Times - John Schwartz

It is wonderful.

Take that overused word literally: Hugo Cabret evokes wonder. At more than 500 pages, its proportions seem Potteresque, yet it makes for quick reading because Selznick s amazing drawings take up most of the book. While they may lack the virtuosity of Chris Van Allsburg s work or David Wiesner s, their slight roughness gives them urgency. The result is a captivating work of fiction that young readers with a taste for complex plots and a touch of magic think Harry H., not Harry P. can love.