The Invention of Hugo Cabret

By Brian Selznick

This historical fiction mystery with a magical feel takes place in Paris, France in 1931. It features a mysterious automaton that writes secret messages, hidden passages in the walls of a Paris train station, and a character based on the real filmmaker Georges Meleis. It was the first novel to win the Caldecott medal! Don’t be discouraged by the book’s thickness. At least half the pages are stunningly beautiful pictures!

Learn more about it here:

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick | Goodreads

IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT ALL THE PICTURES SINCE THEY TELL PARTS OF THE STORY THAT ARE NOT TOLD IN WORDS. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW ALONG IN A PRINTED BOOK OR THE STORY WON’T MAKE SENSE! 

ALSO IMPORTANT: YOU WILL ENJOY THE BOOK MORE AND UNDERSTAND IT BETTER IF YOU WATCH THE FIRST TWO SHORT VIDEOS MENTIONED BELOW BEFORE READING THE BOOK!

IDEAS FOR BRINGING THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET ALIVE

1. Watch this 2-minute video about an actual automaton similar to the one Hugo has. Note: The automaton in the video was built around the year 1800. You can see it at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

• Mechanical Marvels—Automaton: The Draughtsman-Writer "Android," ca.1800

2. Watch the 13-minute silent film A Trip to the Moon made by Georges Melies in 1902. It plays a crucial part in the story. Note: ALL movies were silent in 1902. Talking movies didn’t hit theaters until 1927 .

• Le Voyage dans la Lune (1902) - Georges Méliès  - (HQ) - Music by David Short - Billi Brass Quintet

3. Learn more about Geroges Melies.

• Here’s a detailed article with photos: Georges Méliès - Wikipedia

• Here’s a fascinating 10-minute video that shows how he did his special effects: Georges Melies - Master of Illusion: Crash Course Film History #4

4. Watch these short movies that are mentioned in the story

*1931 Mickey Mouse cartoon The Clock Store (7 minutes)  (This is one of the films Hugo and Isabelle see when they go to the movies on page 202)

• The Clock Store  - Silly Symphony

*The famous clock scene from the 1928 silent movie Safety Last is mentioned on Page 173

• Safety Last! Famous Scene

5. Look at these pages from a French department store catalog to see how people dressed in France in the early 1930s.

• Au Bon Marché Sports Clothes Catalog – Early 1930s | The Vintage Traveler

6. Write a story using pictures and words the way Brian Selznick does in The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Make up new adventures for Hugo and Isabelle, or create your own story about something completely different!

7. Make your own magical movie! With the wonders of modern technology, you can easily do many of Meleis’ special effects. (See the Crash Course video in #4 above for more information.)

8. Watch the visually stunning 2011 film HUGO directed by Martin Scorsese. Hollywood changed the storyline around a bit, but kept the book’s vibe and message. I absolutely loved it, and I wasn’t alone. HUGO was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and won five! If you watch one or both of these trailers, it will surely inspire you to watch the whole movie!

• Hugo (2011) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers ‍ 

• Hugo (2011) Trailer #2 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

9. This article tells more about the 2011 movie HUGO. I highly recommend reading the section about Historical References.

• Hugo (film) - Wikipedia

10. To learn more about how the amazing movie HUGO was made, read this book:

• The Hugo Movie Companion: A Behind the Scenes Look at How a Beloved Book Became a Major Motion Picture

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET:

Part 1 (be sure to also read the brief introduction)

1. Where does Hugo live? Why does he live there?

2.  What job does Hugo do every day? Who is really supposed to be doing that job? 

3. What happened to Hugo’s parents?

4. Describe the automaton.  

5.  How does Hugo get the automaton?

6.  Why is Hugo stealing the toys?

7.  What is a horologist? (Hint: Hugo’s father was a horologist)

8.  What is in the notebook that the toyshop man takes from Hugo?

9.  How does Hugo get the notebook back?

10. How do Hugo and Isabelle get the automaton to work?

11. Describe what the automaton does at the end of part 1.

Part 2 (be sure to read the short epilogue too)

1.  What name does the mechanical man write?

2.  How does Mama Jeanne react when she sees the picture of the automaton?

3.  What do Hugo and Isabelle find in the armoire? (Note: an armoire is like a wardrobe) 

4.  Whom does Hugo meet at the Film Academy Library?

5. While Georges Melies is sick in bed, how do Hugo and Isabelle raise money to buy his medicine?

6. Why can’t Hugo keep the train station clocks running properly anymore?

7.  Who is Monsieur Tabard, and why does he want to see Georges Melies?

8. What do Monsieur Tabard and Etienne bring when they visit Georges Melies?

9. Who do Madame Emile and Monsieur Frick think has been keeping the station clocks running?

10. What does the Station Inspector do with Hugo?

11. Who rescues Hugo?

12. Where does Hugo live at the end of the story?

13. In what way is Georges Melies honored at the end of the story?