The Hello, Goodbye Window (2005), written by Norton Juster & illustrated by Chris Raschka, was a good read that left me with a nice feel good feeling. Winner of the 2006 Caldecott Medal, Chris Raschka really hit the ball out the park with this one. The illustrations are a type of watercolorish drawing. They are very beautiful with very vivid colors that’s sure to further spur the imagination of those for whom this book was intended.
The little girl in the story really enjoys spending time with her grandparents. She begins her story by explaining that: Nanna and Poppy live in a big house in the middle of town. There’s a brick path that goes to the back porch, but before you get there you pass right by the kitchen window. That’s the Hello, Goodbye Window. It looks like a regular window, but it’s not.
This is how we are introduced to the Hello, Goodbye Window. She tells you everything you can do at the Hello, Goodbye Window: climb up on the flower barrel and tap the window, press your face against the window, play peek-a-boo, and a host of other fun things. She then introduces us to the kitchen, with its shelves full of glass jars with lots of everything in them. Her Nanna tells her that she even used to give her a bath in the sink when she was little.
I really liked this little book. I’d say this book is for those as young as 4-5 years old and as old as 90 years old. It’s a celebration of that special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.It reminded me of the kind of relationship everyone should have with someone special, whether it’s an aunt, grandmother or someone else.
So, how does it end. Why don’t you pick it up and see for yourself. You’ll like it, I guarantee it.
Here’s a link to Scholastic web page with some good ideas on how to use this book. (here) This book can actually be used with a couple of 3rd grade OCR stories, teaching about a biography, and as an ice breaker on the first couple days of school.
Special 2 Me 