Action!: How Movies Began

by Meghan Mccarthy

Award-winning nonfiction picture book creator Meghan McCarthy tells the story of how motion pictures came to be invented and the story of the many people who helped create them.

Movies take us on adventures, introduce us to new worlds, and make us feel, but how did they start?

In her trademark easy-to-follow narrative voice, this fact-filled picture book tells the story of the evolution of movies and the people who worked hard to create them—both on-screen and behind the scenes. In fascinating detail, she shows how early photography capturing motion became silent films, which led to the first color films (like the beloved Wizard of Oz), and how those building blocks allowed for the inspiring movies of today.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, History, Historical, Childrens, Art, Juvenile

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 23, 2022

About the author

Children's book author of many wonderful fiction and nonfiction books for young readers, including the below following. Meghan's books have won the IRA-CBC Children's Choice, ALA Notable, Kirkus Reviews Reviewer's Choice, Booklist Best Books, NYPL 100 Best Books, SLJ Best Books, and so on. Blah blah blah, what Meghan really wants to do is drive really fast and jump in really long grass until she gets grass stains. She'd prefer to remain child-like because children don't have to pay bills.

The Wall Street Journal described Meghan’s art as “goofy yet somehow dignified.” Meghan is much the same way. By the age of 40 she plans to wear a boa at all times and on all occasions.

Reviews

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This nonfiction picture book covers a lot of great information about early movie-making and the inventions that made it possible, but it jumps around chronologically a lot, and I would have appreciated more information about how the inventions worked. Also, the part about the transition from silent films to talking pictures didn't even mention The Jazz Singer!

Nonetheless, even though this could be better, it shares lots of interesting information and snapshots of film history in a kid-friendly way. People who enjoyed this may also like Lights! Camera! Alice!: The Thrilling True Adventures of the First Woman Filmmaker and Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie.

[Christina Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always looking for a great STEAM read for my students, one that looks at the sparks of innovation, the people behind them and the ideas they had, the struggles and challenges they faced, and how one idea progressed into grander and more complex innovations. “Action!: How Movies Began,” by Meghan McCarthy is just such a book. McCarthy dives into the history of film, going right back to the beginning in the quest to define movement in still images, to really understand how things move and how to show it. Through an exploration of early paintings, images, and short film, readers are engaged in the journey of early innovators like, Muybridge, Edison, the Lumière Brothers, Méliès, and others. Largely a meditation on early silent films, McCarthy demonstrates the ingenuity of early innovators in bringing the world to life onscreen. As a STEAM read, her work is important in demonstrating the community aspects of the early film industry, with innovators collaborating or communicating, and the inspirational qualities of working with others’ techniques, improving and developing them over time. “Action!” is an engaging read with incredible illustrations that are often humorous. I appreciated her little caricatures of important figures and her interpretation of films through her illustrations. This is a wonderful book to spark an interest in the history and development of film. It would be a great read for students doing stop-motion animation or as part of a film studies project. 


- Teacher Tips -

* Read the Appendix for more information, including a great little bio on Margaret Booth, an early film cutter. 

* Read the Bibliography and list of films referenced in order to go deeper. 

* Watch some of the early films mentioned.

* Have an afternoon at the cinema and try to recreate the atmosphere of watching a silent film. What would it have been like? How would new technology change the way you watch movies?

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intro but it seems photographs and movie stills would be better for illustrating. Sometimes information feels missing, too simplified —a Kinetoscope is shown, both the inside and someone watching, but how does the film pla and was there sound? The author/illustrator states at the end that this is not an extensive lol at movies’ beginnings and then proceeds to share four more pages with text. Here she includes the MGM lion that is on the cover. The subtitle is ‘how movies began’ and some of this could have been incorporated instead of showing more current films as well.

One design flaw is the page showing the Lumiere brothers — text is in white which is fine against the red theater curtain but continues across the screen of a b&w movie and almost disappears.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meghan McCarthy is such a master at nonfiction writing! Her books are must-owns for me.
This one is fascinating as it lets readers take a look back at movie making and also comparing them to movies today.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lickety-split journey from the development of sequential still photographs through contemporary movie making, though the narrative lingers on early silent film and its stars, the advent of "talkies" and the creative inspiration of one film to another. Neat.

[Mela · Rating 2 out of 5]

notes to self : longwinded but choppy. seems random but maybe cause i just don't know enough about early film. author's note even more longwinded and remarks negatively on children attn span. perhaps this shouldn't have been undertaken in a picture book? informative, good vocab

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rich tapestry of cinematography is expertly broken down for a middle grade audience by a master director.

Movies are magical. They have the power to take us on adventures, on journeys, to transport us back in time and propel us into the future. They introduce new worlds, new people, new places. They present us with the impossible, the unbelievable, the magical. They make us feel happy and sad, make us laugh and cry, frighten the living daylights out of us and have us siting on the edge of our seats. A world without them seems incomprehensible. But believe it or not, there once was a time before the big screen. So when did movies start? And who introduced them to the world…

Lights! Camera! Action! Grab your popcorn, your nachos, a large soda and sit back and relax as the history of cinema unfolds before your eyes. Meghan McCarthy is an accomplished creator of accessible, compelling and engrossing non-fiction for children and this is another shining example of why her books should be all in school classrooms and libraries. Action! is a stunning picture book that charts the origins and celebrates the originators of the moving picture. Phenomenally illustrated, with artwork of many famous movie scenes throughout history, fact-filled and rich in fascinating and insightful detail, the story of cinematography plays out beautifully and is worthy of it’s own Oscar (or at least a Caldecott Medal).

The cinematic journey has been a complicated one and it starts in the 1800’s with early photography and long exposure times that meant freeze-frame of motion was not possible. As early pioneers tried to capture motion, the Kinetograph and Kinetoscope would allow brief sketches to be animated for the first time. These early viewings of animated life are a far stretch from the cineplexs and movie theatres of today. Individuals would peer into wooden boxes to watch early animation works; hits included a woman dancing for twenty-one seconds, a five second clip of a man sneezing and twenty seconds of boxing cats.

By the late 1800’s cinema was born and people could now enjoy a shared viewing experience. Early works captured slices of life, moments in time, nothing like the cinematic blockbusters of today. Arrival of Train, Fishing for Goldfish, Baby’s Meal and The Blacksmiths would dazzle and bewilder. A magician in the audience would describe the experience, ‘We stared flabbergasted at this sight, stupefied and surprised beyond all expression.’

As time went on, films would continue to evolve; the transition from black and white to colour would take place - the use of dyes to colour parts of the film - and the major missing ingredient, sound, would revolutionise the silent era. Talkies were born and along with it came a new cinematic experience. Along with the focus on the transition from stills to silent movies to talkies, other tidbits of information shed light on early stunts, special effects, the challenges for black actors and the juxtaposition and correlations between the movies of yesteryear and those of today.

At the heart of the cinematic journey and the on-going quest for bigger, better, bolder are the creators, actors, inventors and innovators. Those both front and stage and those off-screen have all contributed, have all inspired one another and will continue to inspire the future of movie production where the boundaries of possibility are pushed to the limits.

As the author acknowledges, ‘This is not an extensive history of cinema’s silent era. It is meant to be a jumping-off point, to get readers excited to learn more and hopefully do their own research by sampling old movies.’ It is a thoroughly entertaining and brilliant starting point complimented by a plethora of back-matter for readers to dive into; a history of MGM’s Leo-the-Lion; Female Editor’s; The Beginnings of Hollywood; The Disappearance of Louis Le Prince; Makeup in the Silent Era; and a detailed bibliography.

A superb history of moving-making for children in their later years of primary school and an essential read for anyone with aspirations of working within the film industry.

Recommended for 8+.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding informational text and illustration. I learned so much about how movies came to be. Loved this.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Action!: How Movies Began by Meghan McCarthy, an intriguing, whirlwind look into the origins of films and filmmaking.

Believe it or not, kiddos, there was a very long period of history – before the internet, television, and movies – in which human beings had no way of capturing life in motion. That is, until a wealthy former governor and a nature photographer collaborated to “film” a galloping horse. From there, innovation and inspiration went hand and hand to develop the technologies and techniques of the ever-evolving landscape of film. Camera trickery, stunts, and the introduction of sound and color changed the way movies were seen and heard, and continue to influence movies to this very day!

Fascinating. McCarthy mixes her signature pop-eyed realist art style with a breakneck jog through the earliest days of film that is highly detailed, if occasionally scattered. Beginning as a historical account, the narrative shifts to comparisons between modern-day (or at least more recent) examples, such as Buster Keaton and Tom Cruise both doing their own stunts. These comparisons work particularly well, especially how McCarthy frames them in the artwork to mirror each other. Also notable is discussion on how color, lighting, and sound design in film can make an audience feel; these technical aspects are rarely explored in children’s books. Backmatter contains several short-subject blurbs that are fascinating in their own right, such as the disappearance of Louis Le Prince. Overall, the finished product is thought-provoking, but occasionally feels discombobulated as the focus bounces from topic to topic. The length makes this a read best for older elementary or middle school readers, but JJ enjoyed the illustrations a lot. Overall, this a compelling read, especially for young film-lovers who are interested in discovering the rich, if occasionally shady, history of how it all began. Definitely worth a look, and Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars--Lights! Camera! Action! I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Young film buffs are given an overview of the beginnings of the movie industry, from the first filmed motion to "talkies" and the many ways the classic film era continues to influence films of today. Don't expect a comprehensive lesson, but this is a fun and engaging overview intended to whet interest in the history of film.

Humane families note: On the book's cover, we see the MGM lion, whose story is a sad one. A section at the book's conclusion offers some more background on the lions (there were multiple) and other classic icons of the movie industry. As society changes, so do our movies to reflect that.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I love silent films. I was just a kid when I saw my first silent film, D.W. Griffith's Broken Blossoms because there were clips of it in a Charlie Brown film I loved as a kid where Snoopy is trying to write a script. Strange as it seemed there was even a heck of a lot of silent films at the Blockbuster by my house. I loved them. They were so different than anything I was used to seeing. So I truly appreciate this book and think it's a wonderful introduction to films. I just thought it could have been told better. Action! How Movies Began (2022) by Meghan McCarthy is about the history of how the films we know today came to being from the birth of the art back in the late 1800s.

McCarthy's illustrations are wonderful and I realize that picture books are only given a limited amount of pages to say and do so much, but I felt that the author didn't utilize the space well enough. What she did was great, and I realize children's attention span, but still. I've seen many picture books that just showcase so much on one page, whereas this book would only show one thing per page. Again, I get it, but I've seen it done better on other things such as Harlem and A House is a House for Me... But what is here is fun and as the author said, a jumping board into silent films and their influence on what we watch today. Maybe the author should write another follow-up book all about the history of Hollywood in the silent era, thereby making it more contained to a smaller space. My rating - 3/5

If you're a silent film buff or are interested in watching silent films, here are some of my favorites: The Crowd, Sunrise, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Thief of Bagdad, The Gold Rush, The General, Un Chien Andalou, Ben-Hur, Metropolis, The Passion of Joan of Arc, A Trip to the Moon... Oh, I could go on and on. But those are really good films for those who've never seen silent films before.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a big movie enthusiast, so I didn't really think I would be interested in this book; however, I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging it was. It held my attention, and I learned a lot! It answered questions like When did movies start? and who invented them? and so many more. I was fascinated by the author's descrption of how Eadweard Muybridge figured out how to set up a row of cameras tripped by threads across a track to capture the motion of a horse running (1870s). I learned about Edison's kinetoscope (used to record motion) and the amazing building that they built to house it (the Black Maria, 1893) where they created motion pictures. These first "motion pictures" were "slices of life"--sometimes 5 seconds long! Then the Lumieres invented a projector so that people could watch together as a group--and cinema was born (1895)! I learned about Charlie Chaplan, Buster Keaton (want to look him up), and how iconic movie scenes have inspired other similar scenes, including right up to our contemporary movies. The Author's Note in the back contains even more interesting stuff. A fun read (but probably not for a read aloud, unfortunately.) Glad I gave it a try. I can only imagine how much a movie buff would enjoy this book!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct history of the development of movie making, the types of cameras and processes used in the beginning, key inventors and actors, how early movies left their mark and are echoed in even current movies, and then major developments up until talkies came around. The back contains more information including what kind of makeup early black and white film stars had to use.

As the author says in the back of the book, there's a lot of movie history and this just touches the surface. Topics were chosen that were more likely to be of interest to children learning about this history. The book is fully illustrated as well and has about 1 good paragraph of text per page. It's informative without being overwhelming. I found the early makeup description in the back fascinating as I have never heard that they used blue and yellow makeup to show up well in black and white. (None of the movies I've seen about early movies have ever depicted this correctly either, and now I want someone to do it right so I can see how it really looked like.) I also found the bits about early movie moments that have been recreated over and over again in other movies through the years fascinating. Definitely recommended for curious readers and movie buffs.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the same author/illustrator of Pop:The Invention of Bubble gum, this book presents how movies began from a series of single frames that captured how a horse gallops to kinetoscopes to silent films to talkies. It also shares some first innovations in color, special effects, horror, and comedy. Highlighted individuals include Edison, the Lumiere brothers, the magician Melies, Chaplan and Keaton, and Josephine Baker. Movies mentioned in text and captions include A Trip to the Moon, The Phantom of the Opera, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, Nosferatu, Metropolis, and Nights of New York. Most of the illustrations are based on scenes from movies w the people portrayed w exaggerated eyes too big for the skull. The back matter includes information about MGM’s Lion, female editors, the beginning of Hollywood, the disappearance of Louis Le Prince, and makeup in the silent era. Interesting info, not the strongest organizationally.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because it was on several "best of" lists. It really bothered me that a book about film-making included very few photos until the end. And boy, was the print at the end ever small! I had not heard of Le Prince, and found his story very interesting. For a non-fiction book to speculate with terms like "some say" without a corresponding bibliography note really bothers me. The layout of the endnotes was a bit confusing as well.
I did like the illustrations' I just found their use in this rather problematic for representing history. I have read several other of McCarthy's books, and appreciate this style, just not in this case.
(I even looked to see if I could find this as an ebook so I could enlarge the type.) The back page says the intended audio is ages 4-8, grades 2-3. That also has me scratching my head!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so interesting and the pictures were adorable. The illustrations are cartoons featuring characters with giant eyes as well as cartoon recreations of movie characters and scenes. They reproduce scenes from Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Saturday Night Fever, Black Panther, and others much older movies. The author provides a short history of how film evolved from silent movies to talking films.
There are several pages of great information at the end about the MGM lion, makeup in the silent movie era, the beginning of Hollywood, the mysterious disappearance of Louis Le Prince, and a list of other sources
McCarthy says, “Movies will continue to inspire us for generations to come, and we have all the inventors, actors, writers, and directors to thank.”
This should definitely be a Caldecott Contender for the year.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book off the 2023 mock Caldecott lists. This is a nonfiction book about the beginning of movie making. The artwork is right from paintings and film and it's a fun style. I enjoy it. The eyes are wonderful. She takes some famous scenes and renders them in artwork.

I took a film history course in college and all those little shorts we saw showed up in this book as well. I recognized most things. The goes into the history of making moving images and Thomas Edison. Apparently, he was a bully in the industry and is the reason they moved to Hollywood. That's at the end of the book.

It's not a beginner book. It's more wordy and still interesting. Some kids might be interested in the history of America's favorite pastime. Facts are given in a fun and interesting way as the story goes.

[Erin]

Lately I've been particularly noting that kids nonfiction books have a really hard job. They have to make the topic interesting, but it's hard to deep dive into a topic when your audience doesn't have the wider context. Make the topic to broad and it's not as exciting; make it too specific and there's not enough context and nothing makes sense.

McCarthy tries to draw readers into the world of early film and offer enough tantalizing details to not only keep people interested in the book itself, but to encourage readers to find out more later (and watch some of those early films).

I found this very enjoyable, and although I really enjoy McCarthy's illustration style, I very much appreciated the photographs in the back.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of motion pictures is a complex one and putting it into picture book form for young readers is not an easy task. Mostly this is well managed but it is a bit text heavy. There is a LOT of information and it is interesting but I think this going to be most effective with a reader already interested in the subject. The back matter is full of fascinating tidbits that I enjoyed as well and the illustrations add to the fun.

Clearly McCarthy is passionate and knowledgeable about the subject and eager to share with the audience. I think it might have been a bit more successful in a more traditional nonfiction format.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCarthy mostly focuses on the very interesting beginnings of movie-making, including the development of the Kinetescope and movie cameras, the silent movie era, and the early "talkies." She also depicts how scenes in early movies have influenced scenes in later movies. The acrylic illustrations recreate scenes from famous, iconic movies. The only thing I didn't like about the illustrations were the unnaturally bulging eyes on every character. The back matter includes even more details about the early movie years, including Thomas Edison's attempt to monopolize film cameras, film projectors, and film; resulting in movie makers moving to California. She also includes a short sketch of a woman, Margaret Booth, who began as a film cutter in 1915, and worked in the film industry until the 1980s, retiring as an executive producer. An excellent book for young movie history buffs. It also includes a well-rounded bibliography.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the history of movies, especially silent films, but I would have liked actually photos when possible instead of acrylic illustrations. Also, the author notes that she couldn't be extensive and wanted the book to be a "jumping-off point," she says her reason is "page count limitations and children's attention spans." It felt pretty patronizing to me. There is a chance that most children don't care about old movies, especially ones that we might have limited access to watch. Kids have great attention spans for things they are interested in...For movie fans.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Telling the story of the history of cinema, McCarthy uses a fun style that captures certain elements from the creation of motion to how sound and words were added rather than the slides of what the characters were talking about. It seems like it picks and pulls from specific elements to create the story which is alright for a children's book, but it gives someone enough of a taste or introduction depending on your interest to follow up with more, including key players to movies' creation! STEM on blast.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of potential and shows how well the picture book medium is suited to the topic of movies. Unfortunately, I found the text to often be needlessly advanced for readers of picture books (eg. "illustrate a daring quality that makes them riveting to watch") while other times far too simplistic for older readers (eg. "The robot on the left is named C-3PO. Does he look familiar?"). The illustrations are simple and mostly realistic except for enlarged eyes, but the book might have been better off using stills from the actual movies.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have a future movie star on your hands? Anyone else have kids making stop motion movies in their backyard right now? This is an interesting history of movies with awesome illustrations. I like how this book connects the history of film with modern movies and experiences. The author also occasionally asks the reader how they feel or think about something. These techniques both help to draw the reader into information about the past.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was incredible. Reading the book and the author's notes are a must... then plan to spend hours looking at the movies on Youtube. I admit i only watched the really old really short ones, and Tom Cruise breaking his ankle, but this book was amazing
I liked how it talked about how in black and white the makeup had to be blues and yellows, because black and white film need the makeup trick. The book says if you saw the film star in color they would look like Smurfette's Child

[adeservingporcupine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was actually awful. I felt like I was reading passages lifted from a very dry history book and cannot imagine reading this to any child. The design was a mess — white text on an off white background on one page. The pictures were very bizarre (those eyes!) and I didn’t find any of it interesting. I don’t understand how this made it through a publishing team and can’t believe it is on so many mock Caldecott lists.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One movie inspires another, which inspires another."

A nice introductory text about the beginning of movies, starting with the technology that was invented to both film and view movies. It covers early directors like Georges Melies. It also covers some of the early performers like Charlie Chapin and Buster Keaton. It connects movies to the impact they had on more current movies, as well.

Includes additional information as well as a bibliography for further reading.

[StoryTimeReadAloud · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there is a kid you know who is into movies, this is a great book talking about the history of film, focusing on the beginnings. A lot of the pictures have allusions to films in history, making it a bit of an Easter egg hunt for adults (I would imagine not too many kids would have seen Benny and Joon or others to notice).

It was read to my 1st grade class as part of our March Madness and was definitely over their heads but they were intrigued.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In honor of the Oscars presentation this weekend. A look at the technical science of movies, from how action looks in paintings to the invention of cameras that instantaneously capture the action to how the action is stitched together into a film. The focus is on silent films (see crazy Babylon movie) and the move to talkies. Wonder if there might be a book on the transition to digital film production. Extensive back matter, interesting topics! Love the illustrations from the various movies.

[Bartley Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book while trying to find engaging lesson plans for post-EOG testing. I decided to do a novel study on The Invention of Hugo Cabret, followed by a field trip to the movie theater. This book is amazing. The author/illustrator, McCarthy, has really outdone herself. This book is accessible to a variety of students while providing factual information. This is the new way to enjoy non-fiction. I have asked my media specialist to stock the library with this author.