Award Winner Wednesday

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

 

Some great websites:

http://wonderstruckthebook.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K2YaVxeTiM

From Brian Selznick, the creator of the Caldecott Medal winner THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, comes another amazing novel.

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.  (Goodreads) 

Some suggested activities:

Scholastic’s website about the book which includes learning to fingerspell your name in sign language:
http://www.scholastic.com/wonderstruck/index.htm

A virtual field trip with Brian to the American Museum of Natural History and follow-up activities are provided:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/vitural-field-trip-teaching-resources

The American Museum of Natural History: http://www.amnh.org/

An interview/article by National Public Radio about Brian: http://www.npr.org/2011/09/13/140403979/wonderstruck-a-novel-approach-to-picture-books

A video interview of Brian with Al Roker of the Today Show: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44244774/ns/today-books/#.TpjFR0_ogZM

Simple signing with Marc Brown’s Arthur: http://pbskids.org/arthur/print/signdesign/index.html

How to fold an origami boat: http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-boat.html

Another link for folding an origami boat: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-boat.html

Also, in the back of the book, Brian Selznick provides selected bibliography with other links and resources.