Genre 1 Intro and Picture Books

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Juster, Norton, 2005. Ill. by Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Scholastic.
ISBN 0-439-89750

Summary

A little girl going to her grandparents house to spend the day as her parents
go to work. Her adventures throughout the day and the experience with the window in the kitchen, in which her grandparents take delight in pretending of things that they see. Saying hello and goodbye to all they see go by the window. And when she leaves, that is where they are standing, by the window.

Analysis

Through the eyes of this little girl, as she visits her grandparents, are the best time of her stay. She see them with great love in the little things that they do, that she herself enjoys doing. She loves the imagination of both her grandparents and takes delight in the special window as her granparents express their joy of living, like waking up to a new day and throughout the day imagining that they can see anything imaginable.

The illustrations are created by pastel crayon, water color, and charcoal pencils. The pictures are fun to look at and the colors are quite bright. The expression on the characters show the fun that they are having and words are not needed to see what is actually happening. The pictures are somewhat abstract that students could actually see themselves creating such pictures.

Reviews:

"Juster's words also show the child's thinking when he writes, "When I get tired I come in and take my nap and nothing happens until I get up." Text and illustrations compliment each other in this 2005 Caldecot Award Winner.

Reviewed by: Emily and Steele Creek Library
www.plcmc.org/bookhive

"Raska's swirling lines, swatches and dabs of fluffy colors seem especially vibrant, particularly in the double page spread."

www.powells.com - Booklist


"The artwork is the once lively and energetic, without crowding the story or the words out of the page...this is the art of a masterful hand"

www.powells.com - School Library

Connection

- This book could be use to talk about family and what they most remember about their grandparents.

- Looking at the pictures, discussion of what they see and what they might have in common.

- Sharing ideas of making their own book.