The The Houdini Houdini

BoxBox

by by Brian SelznickBrian Selznick

Study SkillsStudy SkillsGenre: Historical FictionComprehension Skill:

Compare and ContrastComprehension Strategy:

PredictComprehension Review Skill:

Plot and CharacterVocabulary: Synonyms/Antonyms

SummarySummaryYoung Victor wants to be a

magician like his hero, famed escape artist Harry Houdini, but his attempts at escape end up as disasters. One Halloween night, he receives a wooden box at Houdini’s house. Victor opens it many years later and discovers Houdini’s secrets.

GenreGenre: : Historical FictionHistorical Fiction Historical fiction has

characters and events based on real people and events in history. As you read, look for historical details.

Comprehension Skill Tested: Comprehension Skill Tested: Compare andCompare and Contrast Contrast

A Comparison tells how two or more things are alike.

A Contrast tells how they are different

Clue words such as like or as show comparisons

Clue words such as but or unlike show contrasts.

Comprehension Skill review Comprehension Skill review – Plot – Plot and and Character Character

We learn about characters by noticing what We learn about characters by noticing what they say and do.they say and do.

The main character’s problem often drives The main character’s problem often drives the plot. The plot begins when a character the plot. The plot begins when a character has a has a problemproblem or or conflictconflict. .

Main events usually focus on the Main events usually focus on the character’s efforts to solve the problem.character’s efforts to solve the problem.

Plot (problem) builds up during Plot (problem) builds up during rising rising actionaction, is met directly at the , is met directly at the climaxclimax, and , and comes to an end, as the action winds down, comes to an end, as the action winds down, during the during the resolutionresolution..

Comprehension StrategyComprehension Strategy PredictPredict

• Good readers think about what will happen next.

• Patterns in the information in a graph or chart can help you predict.

Other ThingsOther Things

Character BookmarksCharacter BookmarksVocabulary GameVocabulary GameA Review: Houdini in Children’s LiteraA Review: Houdini in Children’s Litera

turetureHarry Houdini Harry Houdini Time LineTime Line

Questions about the storyQuestions about the story

Can you always believe what you see?

Why do you think Houdini is able to escape and seems to walk through walls, but Victor cannot?

Why do people enjoy watching magic tricks so much?

What are some things you would and wouldn’t like about being an illusionist?

Review QuestionsReview Questions1.How can you tell Houdini and

Victor were both kind people?

2.Why did Mrs. Houdini cry when she read Victor’s letter?

3.what did Victor try to do after he learned about Houdini’s tricks?

4.Describe Victor’s character.

Review QuestionsReview Questions1. Why didn’t Victor tell his wife and

son about the box?

2. Why did Houdini promise to write Victor a letter?

3. What was important about reading Houdini’s monument?

4. What was in Houdini’s box?

5. When did Victor find Houdini’s box?

Vocabulary - Say ItVocabulary - Say It

vanishedvanishedmagicianmagicianescapeescapebustlingbustling

appearedappearedcrumbledcrumbledmonumentmonument

More Words to More Words to KnowKnow

engravedengravedunexplainableunexplainable

invisibleinvisiblepretendingpretending

judgejudge

invisibleinvisibleNot visible; not Not visible; not

capable of being capable of being seenseen

pretendinpretendinggmaking believe

judgejudgeform an opinion form an opinion or estimate aboutor estimate about

appearedappearedwas seen; came in was seen; came in sightsight

vanishedvanisheddisappeared, disappeared, especially especially suddenlysuddenly

bustlingbustlingbeing noisily being noisily busy and in a busy and in a hurryhurry

monumenmonumenttsomething set something set

up to honor a up to honor a person or an person or an event. A event. A monument may be monument may be a building, pillar, a building, pillar, arch, statue, arch, statue, tomb, or stone.tomb, or stone.

monumenmonumentt

crumbledcrumbledfell to pieces; fell to pieces; decayeddecayed

magicianmagicianperson who person who entertains by art or entertains by art or skill of creating skill of creating illusions, especially a illusions, especially a sleight of handsleight of hand

engravedengravedcut deeply in; carved cut deeply in; carved in; carved in an artistic in; carved in an artistic wayway

unexplainablunexplainableeunaccountable; unaccountable;

without apparent without apparent cause or reasoncause or reason

escapeescapeto get out and to get out and away; to get freeaway; to get free

The clothes were invisible to people who were unfit for their jobs.

The clothes were invisible to people who were unfit for their jobs.

Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

Victor was looking around the huge, bustling train station when he saw Houdini.

The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

The king learned to judge people by their good work and not how they complimented him.

The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

The weavers were only pretending to weave cloth .

The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

The children like Houdini because he could do the unexplainable.

Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

Houdini could escape from an iron milk can in under 20 seconds.

Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

Victor wanted to be a magician when he grew up, just like Houdini.

Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.

Mrs. Houdini vanished up the staircase into the library.

The initials E.W. were engraved on the bottom of the box.

The initials E.W. were engraved on the bottom of the box.

They found the ball lying in the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

They found the ball lying in the corner of a dark monument in the graveyard.

Two smaller words appeared directly below “Houdini”.

Two smaller words appeared directly below “Houdini”.

The lock was so old that it crumbled when Victor brushed his hand across it.

The lock was so old that it crumbled when Victor brushed his hand across it.