AUTHOR: Brian Selznick
AGES: 4th grade - 8th grade
REVIEW: Selznick really brings together different forms of storytelling, including graphic novels, picture books and novels together in this work. For a synopsis of the plot, check out It's All About the Book's entry. What I really like most is how the author uses the artwork to advance the plot action, which really is the magic of picture books and authors like David Wiesner and Graeme Base. Selznick nails the combination, though. The drawings are all pencil, black-and-white, and the whole layout and typography of the text has been executed well. The book feels like a work of art.
He also does a great job of weaving historical facts and artifacts into the fictional storyline. Photos and still frames from films have been integrated seamlessly into the story and illustrations. It's All About the Book's entry questions whether an author has ever been nominated for a Caldecott and a Newberry award in the same year and should 2007 be the year. I agree. This book really deserves distinguished recognition for making us rethink these award categories and how text and pictures can be united.
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