PICTURE BOOKS BLOG #1: The Hello, Goodbye Window

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Raschka, Chris. 2005. THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW by Norton Juster. First ed. Michael di Capua Books, Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0786809140

2. PLOT SUMMARY

In this bright and colorfully illustrated picture book a young bi-racial girl tells the story of the adventures she has while staying at her grandparent’s house. It is written from the young girl’s perspective and centers on the loving and caring relationship she has with her grandparents, Nanna and Poppy. It begins from the moment she greets her grandparents through the window, and includes looking at her reflection through the window with her Poppy, saying goodnight to all the stars with her Nanna, looking out at the garden and greeting the new day, and to eventually blowing kisses goodbye as she is picked up by her parents.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Juster’s tells the story through the voice and point of view of the little girl, which gives the story a playful and fun mood. His writing uses a good balance of narration and dialogue. The dialogue helps to reveal the grandpas good natured and humorous character. For example, when the little girl and grandpa are looking at their reflections in the mirror, Poppy says, “What are you doing out there? You come right in and have your dinner.” And the little girl says, “But I’m here with you, Poppy.” And then he looks at me in his funny way. Poppy’s good natured humor is also revealed in the following dialogue, when Poppy says in a real loud voice, “HELLO WORLD! WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR US TODAY?” The book tells a good story that I think children will enjoy because they can relate to some of the experiences the little girl has.

Raschka’s illustrations are done in a painterly watercolor style and the wash of bright yellows, greens and oranges complement the story’s upbeat and fun mood. The illustrations complement the writing by depicting action, providing differing viewpoints, and reinforcing the text. The picture of the grandpa spraying the little girl with the hose shows the little girl running with a big smile and half moon eyes, which provide a differing viewpoint than the text before it: Sometimes when it’s hot Poppy chases me with the hose and I yell, “Stop it, Poppy, stop it!” The illustration reinforces the text below: When he does I ask him to do it again. The illustrations bring life to the words and used together they complete the story. The illustration helps provide differing viewpoints in another part of the story when the little girl helps her Nanna in the garden: It is a very nice garden, but there’s a tiger who lives behind the big bush in the back so I don’t ever go there. And you can see the illustration of a cute little cat sitting in the garden.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

BOOKLIST: “The window imagery is less important than the title would make it seem. More intrinsic is Juster's honest portrayal of a child's perceptions (a striped cat in the yard is a tiger) and emotions (being happy and sad at the same time “just happens that way sometimes”).
From BookList, March 15, 2005, Copyright © American Library Association.

POWELL’S BOOKS: “Juster departs from the over-the-top punning of his earlier works to create a gently humorous account of a family's conversations and games, all centered on the special window.”
Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)


5. CONNECTIONS

*This story could be used as a springboard for writing in a language experience approach story. Students could share stories of their own adventures visiting their grandparents or other relatives and develop and create a class book.

*Other stories about grandparent/grandchild relationships
Ziefert, Harriet. GRANDMA, IT’S FOR YOU. ISBN 9781593541095
Ona, Gritz. TANGERINES AND TEA, MY GRANDPARENTS AND ME: AN ALPHABET BOOK. ISBN 9780810958715
Smalls-Hector, Irene. MY POP POP AND ME. ISBN 9780316734226