Module 3: The Hello, Goodbye Window

Book Summary

In The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and Chris Raschka, a little girl visits her grandparents and the focus of the story is a window in her grandparents' house. The visit begins with the girl seeing her grandparents through the window and saying hello to them. Then the girl describes all of the activities and fun she has with her grandparents. She describes things they did in the kitchen together, her grandfather playing the harmonica, and how she spends the night at their house. In the morning they all eat breakfast together and she plays outside while her grandparents do some gardening. Then the girl sits by the window, which her grandmother tells her is a magic window because "anybody can come along when you least expect it." At the end, her parents pick her up and they stop at the window to say one last goodbye to her grandparents. 

Reference

Juster, N., & Raschka, C. (2005). The hello, goodbye window. New York: Michael di Capua Books/Hyperion Books for Children. 

Impressions

The way the girl recalls her visit with her grandparents and the style of illustrations makes me think that this book is really an adult remembering the good memories she had with her grandparents as a child. The illustrations are very dreamlike and hazy much like as if one was remembering something years ago, but they do capture the feeling of the moments that are described by the little girl. The illustrations give a warm feeling of good times with grandma and grandpa, and the story also is more of a recollection of those feelings. In regards to the special window, the story and illustrations convey a bittersweet feeling of saying hello and the eventual goodbye to loved family members. At the end of the story, the little girl thinks of having a special "hello, goodbye window" too at her house when she grows up and it really conveys to me how time passes and the next generation eventually becomes the old generation. 

Professional Review

Larkin, E. (2010, February 04). The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 8(1), 98-98. doi:10.1080/15350770903523753 

Library Uses

This book could be used during Grandparents appreciation day at the library with a special storytime for children and their grandparents or whoever is the equivalent in their lives. This book could be used to prompt a conversation for the children in asking them what they love doing with their grandparents.