Caldecott winner Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) talks to the Lambert Center’s Jason Blitman about how his latest book, Big Tree, started as a Steven Spielberg film, and about the legacy of gay and Jewish children’s book authors.

Brian Selznick is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including The Invention of Hugo Cabret, winner of the Caldecott medal and the basis for the Oscar-winning movie Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. Kaleidoscope, a novel in short stories, was called a "lockdown masterpiece" by the New York Times, and his newest book Big Tree, inspired by an idea from Steven Spielberg.

59. Brian Selznick, Big Tree

Big Tree
Written by: Brian Selznick
Narrated by: Meryl Streep

"""Hello, stars. I thought I heard you calling me.""
A mysterious voice has been speaking to Louise in her dreams. She and her brother Merwin are Sycamore seeds, who hope
to one day set down roots and become big trees. But when a fire forces them to leave their mama tree prematurely, they find
themselves catapulted into the unknown, far from home. Alone and unprepared, they must use their wits and imagination to
navigate a dangerous world—filled with dinosaurs, meteors, and volcanoes!—and the fear of never finding a safe place to grow
up. As the mysterious voice gets louder, Louise comes to realize their mission in life may be much bigger than either of them ever
could have imagined!
Brimming with humor, wonder, mystery, and a profound sense of hope, Big Tree is a trailblazing adventure narrated by Meryl Streep and featuring music composed by Ernest Troost. It is Selznick's most imaginative and far-reaching work to date and a singular listening experience for the whole family!"

"Text Copyright © 2023 by Universal Studios. Audio (P) 2023 Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC AUDIOBOOKS, and associated logos are trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc."
Retail CD ISBN: 978-1-339-03670-0
Retail Download ISBN: 978-1-339-00400-6
Library Download ISBN: 978-1-339-00401-3

Big Tree

Big Tree by Brian Selznick - Audiobook Clip

Welcome to 76West, the podcast of the JCC's Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas. 

76West meets at the intersection of arts and ideas. Revamped and reimagined, this new series hosted by arts producer Jason Blitman will feature conversations with today’s leading authors, artists, culture makers, and thinkers.

Previous guests include Alan Cumming, Roxane Gay, Colson Whitehead, and more.

You can find us wherever you get your podcasts. 76West is produced by Jason Blitman and Udi Urman, with original music written and performed by Perl Wolfe and mastering by Matt Temkin.

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