My nine-year-old loved this book. She told me to make sure I really paid attention to the pictures because they tell a different story than the words. She was right, of course. Brian Selznick‘s Wonderstruck tells two distinct stories, one in words and one in pictures, and by the end, they meld.
Both stories are full of wonder, connections and museums. Ben Wilson’s story begins in 1977 in Minnesota where he begins a search for his father after his mother dies. Rose’s story is told in pictures, beginning in 1927 when she escapes her house to cross the river and watch a silent movie in New York. Later we understand she is deaf, and the change from silent movies to talkies isolates her more than she already is. Both Ben and Rose search for important pieces to their lives, and they both need New York City for this.
It’s a lovely book, both parts, and the way it fits together.
For a great text-to-self activity, try The Room Mom’s Considering Differences flowchart: