About The Author: Brian Selznick
Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick was born on July 14th, 1966 in New Jersey, United States. He is an American illustrator and author, best known for illustrating children's books such as Wonderstruck and The boy of a Thousand Faces.
He has a sister who is a teacher, a brother who is a brain surgeon and five nephews and one niece. When he worked at Eeyore's Books for Children in New York, he learned all about children's books which helped him in creating some of his own.
His first book, The Houdini Box, was inspired by a fascination with famous magicians and his secrets, Selznick has illustrated both novels and picture books for other writers, including, When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan. His illustrations for The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley won a Caldecott Honor Award in 2002 and in 2008. his breathtaking graphics book,The Invention of Hugo Cabret was awarded the Caldecott Medal.
Brian divides his time between Brooklyn, New York, and San Diego, California.
He has a sister who is a teacher, a brother who is a brain surgeon and five nephews and one niece. When he worked at Eeyore's Books for Children in New York, he learned all about children's books which helped him in creating some of his own.
His first book, The Houdini Box, was inspired by a fascination with famous magicians and his secrets, Selznick has illustrated both novels and picture books for other writers, including, When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan. His illustrations for The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley won a Caldecott Honor Award in 2002 and in 2008. his breathtaking graphics book,The Invention of Hugo Cabret was awarded the Caldecott Medal.
Brian divides his time between Brooklyn, New York, and San Diego, California.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret was inspired by the life and work of early filmmaker Georges Mêliés. As the story progresses, it begins to recall an earlier time period as well, adding many artistic ideas and a twentieth century twist in to characterize it.
The book, most of all, is a love letter to early cinema. It does a fantastic job of portraying how inspiring, surprising and wonderful early twentieth-century film making was. And how much it did change, and how people thought of art and illusions in general, also Brian Selznick included several references to real films throughout the book. |