More Best Books

Did you like Hugo Cabret? Read more about mystery, machines, and movies!

ALSO BY BRIAN SELZNICK
The Houdini Box by Brian Selznick
Ten-year-old Victor is fascinated by Harry Houdini, the amazing real-life escape artist and magician. He wishes he could escape from a trunk and walk through walls too!  Then one day Victor meets Houdini at the train station and receives a mysterious box — a box that might hold the secrets to the greatest magic tricks ever performed.

The Boy of a Thousand Faces by Brian Selznick
Because Alonzo King was born on Halloween, he’s always loved monsters. He dreams of following in the footsteps of Lon Chaney, the “Man of a Thousand Faces” who starred in many early horror films. But what happens when Alonzo comes face to face with a REAL monster?

The Robot King by Brian Selznick
A brother and sister build a robot from odds and ends they find in their attic. What will be the key that brings their creation to life?

Do you like Brian’s illustrations? Find out about some books he’s illustrated for other authors!

MORE ABOUT THE MOVIES
Before Hollywood: From Shadow Play to the Silver Screen by Paul Clee
This fascinating book explains how today's movies, special effects, and animation came to be. Filled with first-hand accounts, newspaper reports, and diagrams of detailed optical gadgets, this book offers an illustrated tour of the beginnings of technologies that we take for granted today.

Movie Science: 40 Mind-Expanding, Reality-Bending, Starstruck Activities for Kids by Jim Wiese
How does a camera reproduce an image? Why do your eyes combine many separate images into one continuous moving picture? How do movie crews control insects, show us feats of superhuman strength, and make actors fly? Find out how the movies bring fantasy to life through activities and tricks of the trade.

Lights, Camera, Action!: Making Movies and TV from the Inside Out by Lisa O’Brien
Go behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood into the real-life world of agents, casting directors, and other movie-makers. Along the way, show off your knowledge of show biz trivia, and get tips on how to become a movie star! There really is no business like show business.

A Short History of the Movies by Gerald Mast and Bruce Kawin
This classic book gives a wide overview of the history of movies, from the early silent films to the amazing blockbusters of today. Includes almost 500 photos so you can see the years go by right on the page!

MORE ABOUT AUTOMATA
Automata and Mechanical Toys by Rodney Peppe
A guide to the amazing design and beauty of automata and mechanical toys, including their history, step-by-step instructions for making mechanisms, and 160 color photos.

Paper Automata: Four Working Models to Cut Out and Glue Together by Rob Ives
A collection of working paper models to cut out and make. Includes sheep hopping a fence, a hen pecking its food, a man bowing to applause, and a flying fish flapping its wings. Each of the mechanisms uses a different principle to generate motion.

OTHER BOOKS FEATURING MYSTERY AND MECHANICS
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton L. Stewart
"ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?" If so, welcome to The Mysterious Benedict Society. Your mission: stop a nefarious villain from taking over the world. If you like puzzles, you’ll love this book.

Clockwork by Philip Pullman
An apprentice clockmaker. A sinister doctor. An innkeeper's daughter. A prince who is not quite human, and a statue who is not quite . . . not. All of these characters are brought together in a masterpiece of suspense that keeps the heart thumping to the very last page — and the mind whirring long afterward.

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
When Louis Barnavelt moves into his uncle’s unusual mansion, he learns that magic is real and that a cursed clock is ticking off the minutes until doomsday. Will he stop it in time?

The Invisible Detective: The Paranormal Puppet Show by Justin Richards
London, 1936: A strange exhibition has come to town, featuring some eerie, lifelike mechanical people. Can 14-year-old Arthur Drake (a.k.a. The Invisible Detective) and his friends solve this mystery?

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
When a precious Vermeer painting disappears, 11-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their puzzle-solving talents to find the masterpiece and reveal an art scandal.