Hubert Invents the Wheel - Hardcover

Montgomery, Monte; Montgomery, Claire

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802789900 ISBN 13: 9780802789907

Publisher: Walker Childrens, 2005

Synopsis

Is Hubert on a roll, or is his invention spinning toward disaster?

Hubert loves to think, and not only does that distinguish him from his father, Gorp, and everyone else in ancient Sumeria, but it leads to the greatest invention of all time-the wheel. It takes a while for his neighbors to see the wheel as a major technological advancement rather than a newfangled coffee-table top, but eventually they do, and life is great.

Well, life is great until the Sumerians' archenemies, the Assyrians, find out about the wheel and use it to plan their destruction. Now the question is not whether Hubert's invention is ahead of its time, but whether he should have stuck to designing living room furniture instead of causing civilization's demise.

Hilarious and profound, Hubert's adventure brings the ancient world to life.

About this title

About the Author:

Claire Montgomery and Monte Montgomery have seen their work produced on stage, screen, and television. After dark, they can be found playing and singing pop tunes and jazz standards in nightspots throughout Southern California. Hubert Invents the Wheel is their first book.

Jeff Shelly grew up observing the humorous side of life, which has always inspired his art. Jeff lives with his wife and their three dachshunds in the Hollywood Hills.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-7–Hubert is an unappreciated 15-year-old inventor in ancient Sumeria. His dad orders him to stop creating things after the boy's well-intentioned efforts end disastrously. When Hubert finally invents the wheel and proves its value by winning a race, things change fast. But this success leads to new complications including traffic jams and war machines. Broad comic scenes are balanced by wordplay and lively dialogue. Juxtapositions between the realities of Hubert's time and today are especially effective. Applying concepts like road rage and play-by-play announcers to the world of 3000 B.C. provides many of the funniest moments. Some references (edifice complex and Corinthian leather, for example) may be lost on younger readers, but there are plenty more that they will find funny. Playful cartoon line drawings (one per chapter) complement the fast-paced narrative. Most of the characters are basically two-dimensional, but this fits the comedic plot just fine, and their qualities, from the superstitious Queen to the greedy owner of a new and certified pre-owned sledge dealership, are distinct and varied. Hubert, meanwhile, is a fun protagonist to follow. By the time he saves the day with yet another invention (irrigation), he's learned about the dangers and powers of technology, and a bit about himself, too. Like William J. Brooke's A Is for AARRGH! (HarperCollins, 1999), this enjoyable novel demonstrates that ancient history can be surprisingly funny.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
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About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Childrens
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0802789900
• ISBN 13: 9780802789907
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192