Victor and Hugo

October 17, 2016
In Paris, a street performer known as Maestro mesmerizes the crowd on a bridge spanning the Seine, where his dogs, Victor and Hugo, sing along with his accordion playing. In a chaotic sequence of events, a cranky organ grinder tosses a salami at the dogs, who fall off the bridge onto a barge along with Maestro’s accordion and wide-brimmed hat, which transforms into a rubber tire that traps the instrument. Back on land, where “all music” has suddenly stopped, the “accordion tire” rolls through the streets, chased by Victor, Hugo, and throngs of Parisians. Guided by the accordion’s notes, the dogs discover the instrument in the city sewers, and their howling beckons Maestro, who frees his accordion and returns music to the world. Blake’s (Painter and Ugly) rich oil paintings capitalize on the story’s madcap twists, offering bustling scenes of the frenzied crowd and cameos by individuals that include Albert Einstein, Louis Armstrong, Salvador Dalí, and Victor Hugo. But this contemporary fable is a bit too scattered and confusing, and the relationship between Maestro and his dogs gets lost in the shuffle. Ages 3–7.

October 15, 2016
Two dogs rescue their master's accordion--and the world's music--in Paris.Victor and Hugo, a terrier and a basset hound, respectively, accompany their elderly, white master, Maestro, and his accordion on the banks of the River Seine. Appreciative viewers watch their performance, but a tossed salami causes Victor, Hugo, and the accordion to fall into the river. Both dogs (who start speaking once separated from their master) are illustrated with personality and emotion, and the oft-changing perspective keeps the pace moving. However, the core of the story--that Maestro's accordion gets stuck in a tire that constantly evades capture and that said accordion suddenly houses the music of the world--feels arbitrary and even nonsensical. Victor and Hugo, along with many Parisians, chase the accordion, which somehow ends up in a sewer that Hugo and Victor access through a hidden door. Afraid they're stuck in the sewer for good, Victor and Hugo sing a song that makes the whole of Paris sad...and leads Maestro to them. He liberates his accordion and leads the dogs back to the streets, where everyone celebrates the return of music to the world. While Blake's lush oil paintings evoke the colors, vibrancy, diversity, and excitement of this little slice of Paris, his story is a disjointed jumble. If readers are ready to forgive its confused plot, the art offers much to appreciate. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-8)

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January 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 2-Paris's Seine is the backdrop for a street performer and his talented dogs. Victor is a terrier who does backflips within the bicycle basket. Hugo, a hound, balances on a stack of gaily decorated boxes. The Maestro presides at the accordion, but when the animals and musician sound out their names, the instrument echoes their syllables without being played. A merry crowd gathers, to the dismay of an organ grinder, "Grumpy Max," who throws salami to silence the dogs. This sets off a chain reaction in which the instrument and canines fly over the bridge onto a barge, the accordion wedges into a tire, the tire rolls away, and the animals search the sewers for the runaway instrument. Blake's painterly compositions delight the eye. Each page portrays the action in a different light, from the golden glow and strong shadows of early morning to the scene drenched in blue as Victor and Hugo howl their underground melancholy. The narrative is lively, expressive, and slyly humorous. Establishing the mood during the music's absence, the author writes: "Cars wouldn't start, doors wouldn't open, and people wouldn't eat croissants." In a joyous finale, the trio emerge into an ebullient crowd scene featuring cameos of Louis Armstrong, Salvador Dali, Marcel Marceau, and...Victor Hugo. Dogs with personality, a ruddy musician exuding the magic of a wizard, and shimmering, dappled oils that build up layers of glorious color-the elements combine, convincing readers that music is a cause for celebration. VERDICT A high-energy, exuberant romp through the City of Light. For lovers of art, music, and action-packed adventure.-Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

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