The Hello, Goodbye Window
Book Summary:
The Hello, Goodbye Window is a sweet tale of a little girl who
loves visiting her Nanny and Poppy.
According to the child, her grandparents have a magical window in their
kitchen that she can look through to make silly faces at them or try to scare
them. She loves to use the window as a
mirror to play with her grandparents as well as to peer out of the window to
see who is coming or look up at the stars.
APA Reference of Book:
Juster,
N. (2005). The hello, goodbye window.
New York, NY: Michael Di Capua Books.
Impressions:
It
is easy to see how The Hello, Goodbye
Window won a Caldecott Medal in 2006.
Chris Raschka’s beautiful illustrations are full of bright colors that
are sure to bring a smile to the reader’s face.
They are simply amazing and have the ability to grab the reader’s
attention throughout the story.
This
story caused me to reflect on the relationship that I had with my
grandparents. As a child, I grew up next
door to my grandparents. They too had a
kitchen window that you could often look through and see them cooking, washing
dishes, or having a meal. My mother used
to joke that my grandmother would spy on us when were at home because she
always seemed to be at the window and would call our house to inquire what we
were doing if she noticed something out of the norm related to our family’s
routines. However, I personally found
this window comforting. I felt as though
nothing bad could ever happen because my grandparents were watching over
me. I could always look at this window,
wave, and see their smiling faces.
Needless to say, this book has become one of my favorites as it brings
back memories that I will forever cherish.
Professional Review:
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1-The window in Nanna and Poppy's kitchen is no
ordinary window--it is the place where love and magic happens. It's where the
girl and her doting grandparents watch stars, play games, and, most
importantly, say hello and goodbye. The first-person text is both simple and
sophisticated, conjuring a perfectly child-centered world. Sentences such
as" When I get tired I come in and take my nap and nothing happens until I
get up" typify the girl's happy, imaginative world. While the language is
bouncy and fun, it is the visual interpretation of this sweet story that sings.
Using a bright rainbow palette of saturated color, Raschka's impressionistic,
mixed-media illustrations portray a loving, mixed-race family. The artwork is
at once lively and energetic, without crowding the story or the words on the
page; the simple lines and squiggles of color suggest a child's own drawings,
but this is the art of a masterful hand. Perfect for lap-sharing, this book
will find favor with children and adults alike.
Source:
Reynolds, A.J. (2005). [The hello, goodbye window] [Review of
the book The hello,
goodbye window, by N. Juster]. School Library Journal, 51(3), 174. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com
Found through UNT’s Library Database- Book Review Digest Plus
(H.W. Wilson)
Library Uses:
This
story would be excellent to use in the library to discuss what a Caldecott
Medal is. The librarian should show the
students the image of the medal printed on the book and explain that this is
awarded each year to the illustrator of the most distinguished American picture
book for children. While reading, have
the students to reflect on Chris Raschka’s illustrations and share their
thoughts. After reading, have the
students to break into small groups to read and analyze other Caldecott Medal
winners. Each group can briefly share
their assigned book with the class and explain why they believe this book
received such a high honor.
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