The Hello, Goodbye Window

Bibliographic Information
Jester, Norton. 2005. The Hello, Goodbye Window d illustrated by Chris Raschka. Published by Michael Di Capua Books, Hyperion Books for Children. Copyright 2005. ISBN 0-7868-0914-0. Illustrated by Chris Raschka.

Plot Summary
In this magical trip to Nanna and Poppy's house, we rediscover how full of possibilities the world is to a little girl. In this circular storyline, we see how important a window is for playing jokes, discovering the weather, and imagining all sorts of things. This heartwarming tale pulls a person back to their own fond memories of childhood, and makes you think you just left Nanna and Poppy's house yourself.

Critical Analysis
The pictures are truly the heart of this picture book. Though lacking a formal plot, the squiggly lines and child-like formation of the characters, the window and the obejects of this little girl's world are both realistic and comforting. The soft edges and use of white to deliberately blur unimportant details are a unique way of illustrating a vibrant and exciting memory. The bright greens, subdued blues, and smattering of red bring this story alive to those of us who remember it personally while simultatniously offfering a fresh twist to youngsters who are reading this book for the first time. Each person has their own color of skin, which opens this universal experience up to people from many cultures. However, the most stunning theme throughout the entire book is that the window of childhood is only open before so long until it closes forever. Literally and visually, this book conveys that theme from the front cover to the ending cover.

Review Excerpt
Horn Book Magazine"The quiet, gently humorous first-person narrative presents a very young child’s worldview (“when I get tired I . . . take my nap and nothing happens until I get up”); occasionally, an adult perspective intrudes (“You can be happy and sad at the same time, you know. It just happens that way sometimes”). The familial love that is Juster’s subtext finds overt expression, spectacularly, in Raschka’s illustrations—lush mixedmedia
creations saturated in watercolor and pastel crayon and set off perfectly by white space. In paintings that are freewheeling yet controlled, Raschka incorporates tight circular scribbles (for the little girl’s and Nanna’s hair, for bushes, for clouds), solid shapes (for furniture, for floors); thick strokes of watercolor (for trees, for the door that separates the little girl and her grandparents when her parents come to take her home); and a black line that outlines occasional objects—everything from Poppy’s glasses to electrical outlets to a flower Nanna picks... Say hello to Raschka at the top of his form.

Connections
Creative Dramatics: After discussing the concept of family, the Librarian will read this book. Then, students will be divided into groups and asked to act out the many different activities they perform at their realitives house. After students have planned, each group will present their actions. Audience members will raise their hands once they have figured out what each member is doing. The librarian will call on students to guess what action each member performed. Each group will get to present.

Think Aloud Strategy: When first introducing the book to students, the librarian will read the author, illustrator and title of the book. Other think aloud prompts could include: "This story involves a window. Where do you think this window is? Where do you think this window leads? (Looking on the back cover) These three people are all hugging. Why do you think they are hugging? What emotion does a person show when they hug someone? Who hugs you?