Children’s book author Brian Selznick combines illustration and the written word in such an original and innovative way that it has earned him the title of “bookmaking virtuoso.”

Selznick is the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of “Wonderstruck” and “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” — which Martin Scorsese adapted into the Oscar-winning movie, “Hugo.” His books are well received worldwide and have been translated into more than 35 languages.

On Sept. 19 Selznick will make a local appearance on his national book tour to present his new novel, “The Marvels,” in what organizers describe as “an immersive theater experience” at the Granite Theatre — a restored 19th-century Greek Revival Church — in Westerly.

In “The Marvels,” Selznick takes two stories that appear unrelated and leaves it up to the reader to figure out how the individual narratives are connected.

The first story is told in almost 400 pages of continuous pictures. It begins in 1766 when Billy Marvel, the only survivor of a shipwreck, finds work in a London theater. The story goes on to take the reader through five generations of his family of actors.

The second story, told entirely in prose, begins in 1990 and tells the story of Joseph, who ran away from school to the beautiful and mysterious home of his estranged uncle, where, along with the reader, he works to solve multiple mysteries.

In this exclusive Day interview, Selznick, who divides his time between La Jolla, California, and Brooklyn, New York, describes his unique style of storytelling and artistic process. 

Q. Are you doing many of your events in old theaters like the Granite Theatre — which somewhat resembles the Royal Theatre from the book — or is this something new?

A. I think it’s pretty new. When I went on tour with ‘Wonderstruck,’ some of the bookstores arranged for larger spaces, (including) theaters, and it’s always exciting to be in a big, beautiful space. And now that I have a book that’s actually about the history of the theater, being in a theater that reflects the Royal Theater within the story is going to be a real thrill. 

Q. Can you explain the multimedia presentation you’ll be giving?

A. I’ll talk about creating the book and have images from research I’ve done. I lived in London for a couple of months while making the book. And I have music and a few short films that take us behind the scenes of the creation of the book. I see ‘The Marvels’ as a trilogy with ‘Wonderstruck,’ and ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret,’ and I’ll talk about those as well. 

Q. The first section of the book is all in pictures with no words. Is the idea for the readers to interact, to come up with their own interpretation of the story?

A. One of the most satisfying things about making a book is trying to tell a story so the reader is always actively engaged. I’m always interested in having the reader working to complete the story. I never want readers to feel I’m handing everything to them. The idea that the pictures are telling a story but will change depending on who we are and what we bring to it is very exciting. I wanted to play with this new way of telling stories in this book, as the characters piece together the mystery of this old house that the reader comes upon in the second story. 

Q. Are your readers mainly children?

A. Yes, but when I’m writing a book, I’m not thinking about the audience. I’m thinking about the story and what’s happening in it. My characters are mainly between 10 and 12 years old, and I love the fact that my main audience is kids — they’re the smartest and most honest audience. But I also like when older kids and adults enjoy my books. I know ‘Hugo’ is being used in college classes. And adults tell me that my 500-page book is the first 500-page book they’ve read!

Q. Why do you think these books resonate so well with readers, and what do they succeed in doing that today’s young readers aren’t getting in other literature?

A. My editor says, ‘If the reader cares about the main character, the reader will care about the things the main character cares about.’ I’m often writing about children who are orphans or feel they don’t have a family. Very often it’s about how they form a new family for themselves. I think that’s something that resonates for most people in some fashion.

I’m trying to learn from what I’ve done before, but not repeat myself … If I’ve done one thing and it’s turned out successful, I want to take all the lessons I’ve learned and create something new for myself, and hopefully the readers as well. 

Q. You graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and pretty much went right into the book-publishing world. Along with all the hard work involved, is this the most wonderful, fun, creative, fulfilling career you could ever imagine? When you were younger, did you ever think this is what you would be doing?

A. Yes, this is amazing and I pinch myself every day for the luck I’ve had. But when I was at RISDE, I didn’t want to be a children’s book illustrator. I thought all children’s books were cute rabbits driving cars and I wasn’t interested. And so did a lot of theater at Brown University and got into a lot of set design and thought that’s what I’d do.

And then I got a job at Eeyore’s (Books for Children) in Manhattan and realized children’s books are an incredible and rich genre with incredible history to them and that I’d like to be part of that world. I had no understanding of children’s books or narrative writing. I learned at the store. I published my first book (‘The Houdini Box’) while working there. ‘Hugo’ was something I never imagined would happen. I couldn’t be happier that I get to tell stories the way I want to tell them to children. It’s something I’m grateful for every day.

“The Marvels” (Scholastic Press) by Brian Selznick is $32.99, hardcover.

IF YOU GO

What: Multimedia presentation and Q&A with author Brian Selznick

When: Sept. 19 at 1 p.m.

Where: The Granite Theatre, 1 Granite St., Westerly; after the event, Selznick will meet the public and sign copies of his book at the nearby Westerly Public Library, 44 Broad St.

Cost: Tickets are $40 and include a hardcover copy of “The Marvels.” Additional tickets without a book are $10 each.

Info and tickets: www.granitetheatre.com or call (401) 596-2341