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Hubert Invents the Wheel
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.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2005
4 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Monte Montgomery
7 books3 followersMONTE MONTGOMERY is the co-author of Hubert Invents the Wheel. His work has also been produced on stage, screen, and television. He and his wife, Claire, live in Washington, DC, where they’re still trying to figure out what to be when (and if) they grow up.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 30, 2016
I was looking for a book to use for my students to read in between 5th and 6th grades. In 6th, our students study ancient civilizations, and I had such hopes for this book. The POV is a precocious teenager who is an avid inventor. It's a funny and entertaining read, and would have been a really great bridge book over the summer to introduce ancient civilizations in a catchy and light-hearted way. However, the book has some risqué elements and (unfortunately) because it has a swear word, it eliminates itself from consideration for a classroom setting. If the author or editor ever reads this, please remove Salvo's comment at the end of the book that says, "Damn the dam." That one small "damn" word caused me to not use it for my incoming 6th graders. Which broke my heart! I created an entire UNIT PLAN around this book (as I was reading it), with vocabulary, comp questions, activities, and hands-on projects only to be so disappointed in the end. In your next edition, please remove that one small (and truly unnecessary word) and it would be happily #1 on my reading list. It's a great read, full of good facts and puts the tension between Assyrians and Sumerians at level 11 year olds would understand. It could have easily been rewritten to be: An exasperated and irritated Salvo exclaimed, "Uggh! That dam!" and the reader would have understood what the character had experienced. Overall, I had such high hopes, but was really let down by the swear word.
June 10, 2016
I enjoyed reading this with 5th graders. We used in our book club. It's about a boy, who loves to invent, problem solve, create, construct, and make life easier. The struggle is about all the havoc, disaster, and destruction that usually accompanies. His father abhors his ways as it reminds him of his late wife that was much like him that was never seen again after an "experiment". The invading and gnarly Assyrians try to invade the Sumerians, and Hubert comes to the rescue eventually while overcoming a few obstacles of course. Strangely enough, his mother is found in a rather obscure way that seems a little reaching. I love the weaving of some factual history with this story about a gifted kid that has to overcome a lot of challenges to be a success. His giftedness is resented by some and hated by those he loves and cares for the most, but it is a part of who he is. Good lessons to be gleaned.
July 10, 2008
A friend who reads for the blind told me about this book while she was recording it, then loaned me her copy. It's written for kids - 9 and up? - but it is really funny. It's like a lot of kids' movies, with jokes and puns that go right over the kids' heads, but the adults think are hilarious. Some of the puns and jokes are actually pretty good! And it made me wonder about the true history of the Sumerians and Assyrians, so I might have to do a little research!
April 11, 2009
This book is about a boy who live in ( I really truely didn't give a care, ) but the story is that he invented the wheel and he is popular and people like him until the country's enemy is plotting to use the wheel to attack the Samaritans. Then the people that liked Hubert ( which I'm pretty sure it was NOT a name back then,) hated him, and then he saved the day. This book made me feel as if I died alittle inside once is started to read it. It was that bad.
February 18, 2010
i really like this book because of all the detail. i have just started it and it is so good! hubert loves to invent stuff, just like his mom. his mom died when she was trying out an invention, the umbrella and got swept away. Hubert's dad Gorp owns his own business and hubert wants to invent but he cant because he works with his dad.
November 9, 2010
Very smart little book! A great narrative story set in ancient Sumeria, but it is very tongue in cheek- more appropriate for late elementary kids who are more likely to get the numerous jokes. Rather Shrek-esque in its humor (not crude by any means, just older kid stuff).
October 13, 2008
It was okay not a complete fan.
November 11, 2008
Really funny and good story about how the wheel could have been invented!!! Fiction
January 14, 2010
I read this book for my boys on a recommendation from Tracy. What a treasure! We ended up laughing every day when we'd pick up this book to read.
May 20, 2012
Read this to my class, and they loved it!
May 18, 2013
J MONTGOMERY
September 16, 2013
I got to meet the authors of 'Hubert Invented the Wheel".
October 13, 2014
Kids liked this more than I did. Had a few redeeming points....otherwise it'd be one star. A waste of time as far as historical fiction goes.
February 3, 2015
An oddball adventure in ancient Sumeria, Hubert Invents the Wheel is a great kid's story, but works as well for all ages.
February 4, 2016
Asher (8yo) read. "It was really funny. It was about this kid who keeps inventing things, like plumbing, yokes, wheels, etc. He makes them to make life easier, but his dad DISAGREES!"
April 1, 2009
This is one of the most hilarious, well-written and AWESOME books EVER!!!!
May 15, 2009
this book is so weird but appropriat and great too!!
June 10, 2009
some boys may enjoy it but it didn't grab me.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews