The Hello, Goodbye Window

Caldecott Medal Award Winner 2006

Citation:

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster.  Illus. by Chris Raschka, (Hyperion Books for Children, 2005). 29p. Traditional Picture Book.

Summary:

The love of a grandchild and her grandparents are told from the child’s perspective.  The vibrant illustrations convey the shared love and enthusiasm of the multi-racial family.

Critique:

a.    The illustrations enhance the story being told by a child about the times she spends with her grandparents.

b.    The illustrations are bright and vivid portraying happiness, but muted and blended to provide a familiar comfortable feeling.  The illustrations have blurred lines appearing as if a child drew the pictures which are appropriate since the story is told through the eyes of the granddaughter.  The illustrations are a testament that the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren and the experiences they create.

c.    “Poppy makes breakfast.  He says it’s his specialty.  My favorite is oatmeal with bananas and raisins that you can’t see because he hides them down inside.  I find them all” (p. 15-16) expresses the joy the child has in the simplest times with her grandfather.

Curriculum Connection:  

Relationships and family experiences are key in the social and emotional development of a young student.  The Hello, Goodbye Window should be a required reading in any early childhood classroom when studying the family unit.