The Hello, Goodbye Window

Bibliography:
Juster, Norton. 2005. The Hello, Goodbye Window. Ill. by Chris Raschka. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 2004113496

Plot Summary:
In this book, a little girl describes a kitchen window that is a magic gateway. She describes all the important memories, events, traditions that bring her family together through this window's presence. The book tells of the little girl's childhood while describing the special relationship she has with her grandparents.

Critical Analysis:
Juster uses a first-person point of view in his writing, so that the story is told from the little girl's eyes. It is written in such a simple, light way, that it portrays a carefree, imaginitive world of a typical young child. Including details such as dinosaur sightings within the book, further stress the child's imaginative state of mind. The events that happen within the story, such as star-gazing, taking naps, and playing gamesndemonstrates the egocentric state of mind of a little girl.

Raschka's illustrations are bright and vivacious using a wide variety of color. The warm colors represent a happy, reminiscent time and they blend together in such a way that they almost seem to reflect a daydream. The basic drawings are similar to those of a child's which certainly draws young readers in.

The combination of the writing style and illustrations give an overall feel of energy and happiness. I liked this book, however, I did think that it would be a bit boring for a child to read despite the child-friendly illustrations. It may also be difficult for some children to relate to since it discusses the grandparent relationship to a child and takes place at their home.

Review Excerpt(s):
Caldecott Medal Winner 2006
Child Magazine's Best Children's Book Award 2005
School Library Journal: "Perfect for lap-sharing, this book will find favor with children and adults alike"

Connections:
*This book can be used to open a discussion about families, traditions, and favorite memories.
*This book encourages a creative imagination, so it can be used to talk about a child's fantasies, such as, "if you had your own magic window, what would you be able to see/do?"
*It can also be used to discuss fact from fiction.