The Hello, Goodbye Window
 | |
| Author | Norton Juster |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Chris Raschka |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Michael Di Capua Books |
Publication date | 2005 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Paperback and Hardcover |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 0-7868-0914-0 |
| OCLC | 59280738 |
| [E] 22 | |
| LC Class | PZ7.J98 He 2005 |
The Hello, Goodbye Window is a children's picture book written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka. Published in 2005, the book tells the story of a little girl who enjoys visiting her grandparents. Raschka won the 2006 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations.[1]
Description
The story written by Norton Juster is told in present tense from the little girl's point of view (first-person narrative) while she is visiting her grandparents' (Nanna & Poppy) big house in the middle of town. The illustrations by Raschka are "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."[2] The book dimensions are 10.5 x 0.5 x 11.4 inches. The Hello, Goodbye Window is 32 pages long, a industry standard for children's books.
Synopsis
A girl visits her grandparents house, where for her the kitchen window is a special gateway. Where everything important happens. Told from her point of view, the story explores her special relationship with her grandparents through the window, by the window and around the window. She tells us how the window is perfect for looking into the kitchen from the porch to play a game of peek-a-boo with "Nanna" and even turns into a mirror at night. She describes her experience with her grand parents and all the fun things there are to do in the house as well as the things she has been told to stay away from. She helps Nanna in the garden and also listens to Poppy play Oh! Susanna on the harmonica, she enjoys it even though it is the only song he can play. When her parents come to pick her up she is both happy and sad at the same time, but the little girl understands "it just happens that way sometimes."
Critical reception
The Hello Goodbye Window was published to favorable reviews and is recommended for grades Pre K-1. Lisa Von Drasek a Curator of the Children's Literature Research Collections for the University of Minnesota recommends The Hello, Goodbye Window for teachers to read a loud in class, saying that it is a great role model for young children.[3] Publishers Weekly called it "endearing",[4] Teaching Pre K-8 called it a "joyous tale" [3] Kirkus reviews claimed that Juster's present-tense narration is "just right" and "Raschka's mixed-media illustrations are characteristically loose and energetic" [5]Martha V Parravano from The Horn Book Magazine raves that "A varied layout, balancing exterior and interior landscapes with smaller character vignettes, helps sustain the book’s energy. Say hello to Raschka at the top of his form." [6]
References
- ^ American Library Association: Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 - Present. URL accessed 27 May 2009.
- ^ Reynolds, Angela J., et al. "The Hello, Goodbye Window." School Library Journal 51.3 (2005): 174. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
- ^ a b Von Drasek, Lisa. "The Hello, Goodbye Window." Teaching Pre K-8 36.7 (2006): 62-63. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. Cite error: The named reference "Von Drasek" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "The Hello, Goodbye Window." Publishers Weekly 252.8 (2005): 173-174. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2014
- ^ "The Hello, Goodbye Window." Kirkus Reviews 73.5 (2005): 289. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
- ^ Parravano, Martha V. "The Hello, Goodbye Window." Horn Book Magazine 81.4 (2005): 451-452. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
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