Product Description
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. It is also a love song devoted to that special relationship between grandparents and grandchild.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 114 reviews)

The Hello, Goodbye Window

The Hello, Goodbye Window is the 2006 winner of the Caldecott Medal, and was a great hit with my son. He had me read the book to him twice, and laughed throughout.

I think my son is the perfect age for this book, because it is all about the special kitchen window at a little girl's grandparents' house. Each page talks about some different aspect of how the window is special. They greet each other through the window, surprise each other, make faces, look at their reflections, and look at the stars.

My son especially liked the page where they looked at, and talked to, their reflections in the window. A little while after reading the book I saw my son staring at his reflection in our sliding glass door, smiling and moving back and forth, watching his image. I know that he was imitating the girl in the book.

When I asked him if he liked the book he said yes, but when I asked him if he liked the pictures he said no, that they were too scribbly. Even though the pictures do have a scribbly effect, he had no problem following along and pointing at objects in the pictures, and it certainly had no effect on his enjoyment of the book. I did think it was funny that the one thing he took issue with - the art - was the part of the book that was honored by the Caldecott Medal.

November 24, 2008

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Great illustrations. Wonderful book to give children the opportunity to see how imagination can play into their own world.
November 09, 2008

Lovely idea

What a touching little story! Tis is from the perspective of a little girl who is babysat by her grandparents--and the love between all three is evident and incredible. The writing is charming and will connect with small kids, and the artwork is just a blast.
September 27, 2008

Didn't care for it.

I just don't particularly like it, and neither do my children. The story isn't interesting and the illustrations aren't engaging. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, and since my copy just takes up space on our bookshelf, I will probably donate it to the next church fund raiser. After all, it's in perfect condition.
August 24, 2008

Like the story, not so sure about the illustrations

They just aren't my preferred style.

I like that the little girl is biracial, and that her grandparents are a biracial couple, that's always good to see (especially when it isn't A Very Big Deal). And I do like the way the colors in the book pop out. Not sure I like how it's done, though.

At any rate, it's a well-written story, full of just the sort of details you'd expect a five-year-old narrator to put in, and it's clear that everybody in this family loves each other very much. Definitely check it out.
August 03, 2008

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