Monday, November 19, 2012

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and Chris Raschka
Caldecott Medal (2006)


This story is about a window, a magical window for one little girl. It's her Nana and Popa's kitchen window and to her it's a gateway in which everything exciting happens near it. Whether she is looking through it, beyond it or near it the window captures the ordinary and she makes it extraordinary. What a wonderful celebration of life. The pictures make the story come alive as they intertwine with the words throughout the tale.

Teachers can use this book to:

  • Open up a conversation with children about their family relationships. 
  • Create a magic window to use in the classroom to help "change the perspective" and get a new view of a situation.
  • Begin a letter writing project in which students write to grandparents.
  • Invite parents to share about their grandparents and special experiences.
  • What makes a special memory.
  • Work with the art teacher to create a poetry/art creation with students.
    • How can artwork change the poetry and words. The power of words and pictures
Summary:

I didn't think I was going to like the book because of the type of artwork, it was very contemporary and  it's not normally my "cup of tea". As I read through the book a few times I began to understand the artwork and to me it felt like a perfect representation of the girls' vision of the magic window. This is a great book to share with children of all ages. My mother-in-law fell in love with it because of the loving  way the girl shares the story of the wonderful things that happen near the window. I think people of all ages can relate to the special memories they have from their childhood.

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