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    Kaleidoscope, by Brian Selznick | Book Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Best Kids Stories Fantasy: Supernatural Fiction Novels for Kids and Teens
    Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick Book Review
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    Book Review of Kaleidoscope
    The Children’s Book Review

    Kaleidoscope: Book Cover

    Kaleidoscope

    Written and Illustrated by Brian Selznick

    Ages 8+ | 208 Pages

    Publisher: Scholastic | ISBN: 9781338777246

    What to Expect: Hope, love, grief, loss, magic, dreams.

    Keys. Books. Gardens. Ships. Friends. Loss. Sometimes there are giants, knights, and ghosts. At other times, they only play games of make-believe. In the hot California desert, they find a sphinx made of plywood and plaster who stares at them enigmatically. In an abandoned house, they find a broken clock that tells time in decades and centuries. In New Jersey, they collect the half-burned fragments of a neighbor’s encyclopedic, life-long exploration of the word “apple.”Across time and space, two boys find each other, journey together, and lose each other and themselves. Where they will end up, no one knows – but it is the journey that is important.

    “Don’t read for plot” is the publisher’s advice on Kaleidoscope, and it is sound advice. Like watching an old film with the sound turned off, Kaleidoscope is a dreamy, ethereal, immersive reading experience that defies reduction to the logical. Sensory vignettes are held together only loosely by theme, character, and imagery, resulting in moving and poignant episodes despite leaving readers to construct their own meanings. Selznick’s iconic black-and-white illustrations add further layers of mystery to each chapter, playing with both perspective and symbolism. This is not an easy read, but it is absolutely made for re-reading, sharing, discussing, and introspecting.

    If you like Brian Selznick’s work, Kaleidoscope will take you to the next level.

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    About the Author

    Brian Selznick’s books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless awards worldwide, and been translated into more than 35 languages. He broke open the novel form with his innovative and genre-defying thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous movie by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick; and the New York Times bestseller, The Marvels.

    Selznick’s two most recent books for young people, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, co-written with his husband David Serlin, and Kaleidoscope, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2021, were both New York Times bestsellers as well. He also illustrated the 20th-anniversary edition covers of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Selznick and Serlin divide their time between Brooklyn, New York, and La Jolla, California.

    Learn more at thebrianselznick.com and mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.

    BrianSelznick_credit-JameyMazzie

    More From Brian Selznick

    The Invention of Hugo Cabret: Review and Book Summary

    The Marvels, by Brian Selznick: Book Summary

    Movie Trailer: Hugo Cabret

    Dr. Jen Harrison reviewed Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick. Discover more books like Kaleidoscope by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Brian Selznick, Grief, Hope, Magic, and Middle Grade Books.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling | Book Review
    2. Gregory Funaro, Author of Watch Hollow: My Writing And Reading Life
    3. Five Stupendous Steampunk Stories For Kids and Teens
    4. James Riley, Author of The Revenge of Magic | Selfie and a Shelfie

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Brian Selznick Grief Hope Illustrated Chapter Books Magic Middle Grade Books Scholastic
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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