The Hello, Goodbye Window

The Hello, Goodbye Window

by Norton Juster
Illustration by Chris Raschka

This is a love song devoted to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild. The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, for one little girl, a magic gateway. Everything important happens near it, through it, or beyond it. Told in her voice, her story is both a voyage of discovery and a celebration of the commonplace wonders that define childhood, expressed as a joyful fusion of text with evocative and exuberant illustrations.The world for this little girl will soon grow larger and more complex, but never more enchanting or deeply felt.

Grandparents are undoubtedly an important part of a child's life and this story lovingly explains what makes those relationships so special. Told through the eyes of a young girl on a visit to her grandparents' house, this story gives multiple examples of the fun and meaningful times a child has with his or her grandparents. From helping Grandma in the garden to listening to Grandpa play his harmonica, the girl tells about her day in the rambling, excited way that only a young child can, and thus makes it easily relatable for other preschool-age children. The illustrations, which are slightly abstract for a children's book, are bright and colorful and add a touch of humor to the story.

This story can either be enjoyed by grandparents reading it to their grandchildren or by parents reading it to their child as a reminder of the time they spent with their "Nanna and Poppy." Either way, kids will love curling up next to a loved one and listening to this endearing story. Perhaps your child will want to share his or her special memories or maybe this would be a great time to call the grandparents on the phone and let your child talk to them.

Even as an adult, I connected with this story. I remember going to my grandparent's house when I was a child and they would babysit me while my parents worked. Their house even had a hello, goodbye window in the kitchen, just like the story, where I would hop up to see if they were in the kitchen and surprise them with a silly face or wave goodbye when we were leaving. As someone who has always felt close to my grandparents, I think this is a wonderful story that accurately portrays that special relationship.

--Abby