Shortcut

//Shortcut// is a story of multiple characters that overlap each other in separate chapters until the end where all the stories come together in one chapter. Each chapter follows a specific character and something that they had done in that given day. There are multiple viewpoints which means the children need to pay attention and follow along. The illustrations in this book are important while following along with the story.
 * __Shortcut__**
 * __ Reviewed by: Peter Bonanno __**
 * __Summary:__**

I personally enjoyed the book because at first it had me confused. I had to re-read and really pay attention to the illustrations to follow along. It is a good book to introduce to students because it makes them have to make connections between characters that never actually meet, just their actions connect them at the end.
 * __Review:__**

The literary element I found most important in this book is the illustrations. The pictures have just as much pull as the actual words do in the story. The illustrations guide the children through book foreshadowing events that will occur in later chapters. For example Albert’s horse pulls a lever in an illustration but nothing is said about it in the text; in a later chapter a train is veered to a different track that is not complete. The horse pulled the lever to switch tracks but the author does not state that in the text.
 * __Literary Element:__**

David Macaulay was born in the United Kingdom on December 2nd, 1946. He moved to New Jersey at the age of 11 and graduated high school in Rhode Island. He then went on to the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a degree in architecture. He has published many books on architecture and design along with a few children’s books, //Shortcut//, being one of them.
 * __Author Bio:__**


 * Bibliographic information **


 * Title || Shortcut ||
 * Author || [|David MacAulay] ||
 * Illustrated by || David MacAulay ||
 * Publisher || Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1999 ||
 * ISBN || 0618006079, 9780618006076 ||
 * Length || 64 pages ||