1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Norton, Juster. 2005. THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW. Ill. by Chris Raschka. MICHAEL DI CAPUA BOOKS. Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 0641822499
2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW is told through the eyes of a little girl. She tells the reader about her visits to Nanna and Poppy. The little girl begins the story by describing how “Nanna and Poppy live in a big house in the middle of town. There’s a brick path that goes to the back porch, but before you get there you pass right by the kitchen window. That’s the Hello, Goodbye Window.” The little girl informs the reader of this magical window. You can see anything and anyone through the window. She sits at the window and encounters Tyrannosaurus Rex, the pizza delivery guy, and the Queen of England. In the end, the little girl's parents pick her up and she’s sad and happy at the same time. However, she knows she’ll be back the next day to be with Nanna and Poppy for another day of unconditional love, warmth, and joyous discoveries.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW is a delightful picture book for ages three through eight. The subject matter covers the following: Extended family, relationships, life experiences, imagination, and creativity. My second grade students commented that this book reminds them of their visits with their grandparents in Mexico. I told my class, during our book discussion, that this story brought me back to the time when I was a little girl. I shared with them that my grandfather would make oatmeal for me and put raisins and bananas in it too. This part of the book made me happy and sad at the same time, just like the little girl in the story. I told my students that when I read this picture book, I cried from happiness. I was truly an engaged reader when I read THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW.
The illustrations in THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW are a painterly media. Watercolors fill the pages with lively impressionistic style. The illustrations are child like and complement the text.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Child Magazine- Best Children’s Book Awards 2005
Starred review in Horn Book Magazine: “A varied layout, balancing exterior and interior landscapes with smaller character vignettes, helps sustain the book’s energy. Say hello to Raschka at the top of his form.”
Starred review in School Library Journal: “The artwork is at once lively and energetic, without crowding the story or the words on the page. . .this is the art of a masterful hand.”
Starred review in Booklist : “Raschka’s swirling lines, swaths, and dabs of fruity colors seem especially vibrant, particularly in the double-page spread.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*Students can discuss which illustrations they like and why.
*Students can reveal if they have a hello, goodbye ritual in their family and discuss it with the class.
*Have other books in the classroom by Norman Juster and Chris Raschka for students to read.
*Other books for children to read on extended Family:
Voigt, Cynthia. DICEY’S SONG. ISBN 068984798X
Nimmo, Jenny. THE SNOW SPIDER. ISBN 0525443061
Monday, September 10, 2007
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Bradbury Press. ISBN 02-72425-5
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, Pat Cummings interview fourteen distinguished children’s book illustrators. Each chapter begins with an autobiographical description of the artist. Each depiction provides details of the artists private and professional career. Pat Cummings provides a childhood and adult picture of the artist. Further, the illustrators furnish a childhood drawing and a professional drawing from his / her portfolio. Moreover, in this book, Pat Cummings directs
the artists to eight basic questions a child would ask. For example, “Do you ever put people you know in your pictures?” and “What do you use to make your pictures?”(Cummings 1992, p. 13). Finally, in TALKING WITH ARTISTS, there is a glossary of art terms and a list of books by each artist noted in Pat Cummings book.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
TALKING WITH ARTISTS is an informal and well-written
book about artists / illustrators who love their craft. This book gives a glimpse into their lives and their love for their profession. This book reveals the artists life-long passionate odyssey of their love of art from childhood to adulthood and how they became successful artists.
The autobiographies in this book are interesting, entertaining, and inspiring for children who want to become artists. Young children will revel as the artists share their medium, styles and techniques. For example,
Lois Ehlert explains, “The art technique I use is called
collage: cut pieces of paper glued to a backing.
Sometimes I paint white paper with watercolors and cut it up, and sometimes I use paper with just one tone.
I usually make a dummy with just pencil drawings to show what I want to illustrate on each page. Then I start looking at my subject matter” (Cummings 1992, p. 40). Children will overwhelmingly make a connection with one or more of the artists in this book. Young children in grades three through eight will be engaged and motivated by the
illustrations and the lives of each artist.
The photographs and the illustrations in this book are appealing to young audiences. The varied techniques, styles, and medium utilized by the artists will keep young children interested and entertained.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal: “Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children’s literature has become central to the curriculum.”
The Horn Book: “An inspired concept, executed with class.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*During art study, focus on an illustrator from the book and employ his / her artistic media. Teach students the different artistic styles that are rendered by the illustrators in TALKING WITH ARTISTS.
*Each month have a book of one of the artist from the book.
*During creative writing, allow students to write, illustrate, and publish their own children’s book.
*For more ideas and activities look at this web site: http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/bookzone/content/default.mspx
*Other books about Children’s books and illustrators:
Cummings, Pat. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol. ll. ISBN 0-689-80310-9
Cummings, Pat. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol. III. ISBN 0-395-89132-9
Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Bradbury Press. ISBN 02-72425-5
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book, Pat Cummings interview fourteen distinguished children’s book illustrators. Each chapter begins with an autobiographical description of the artist. Each depiction provides details of the artists private and professional career. Pat Cummings provides a childhood and adult picture of the artist. Further, the illustrators furnish a childhood drawing and a professional drawing from his / her portfolio. Moreover, in this book, Pat Cummings directs
the artists to eight basic questions a child would ask. For example, “Do you ever put people you know in your pictures?” and “What do you use to make your pictures?”(Cummings 1992, p. 13). Finally, in TALKING WITH ARTISTS, there is a glossary of art terms and a list of books by each artist noted in Pat Cummings book.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
TALKING WITH ARTISTS is an informal and well-written
book about artists / illustrators who love their craft. This book gives a glimpse into their lives and their love for their profession. This book reveals the artists life-long passionate odyssey of their love of art from childhood to adulthood and how they became successful artists.
The autobiographies in this book are interesting, entertaining, and inspiring for children who want to become artists. Young children will revel as the artists share their medium, styles and techniques. For example,
Lois Ehlert explains, “The art technique I use is called
collage: cut pieces of paper glued to a backing.
Sometimes I paint white paper with watercolors and cut it up, and sometimes I use paper with just one tone.
I usually make a dummy with just pencil drawings to show what I want to illustrate on each page. Then I start looking at my subject matter” (Cummings 1992, p. 40). Children will overwhelmingly make a connection with one or more of the artists in this book. Young children in grades three through eight will be engaged and motivated by the
illustrations and the lives of each artist.
The photographs and the illustrations in this book are appealing to young audiences. The varied techniques, styles, and medium utilized by the artists will keep young children interested and entertained.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal: “Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children’s literature has become central to the curriculum.”
The Horn Book: “An inspired concept, executed with class.”
5. CONNECTIONS
*During art study, focus on an illustrator from the book and employ his / her artistic media. Teach students the different artistic styles that are rendered by the illustrators in TALKING WITH ARTISTS.
*Each month have a book of one of the artist from the book.
*During creative writing, allow students to write, illustrate, and publish their own children’s book.
*For more ideas and activities look at this web site: http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/bookzone/content/default.mspx
*Other books about Children’s books and illustrators:
Cummings, Pat. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol. ll. ISBN 0-689-80310-9
Cummings, Pat. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Vol. III. ISBN 0-395-89132-9
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