79. The Hello, Goodbye Window, by Norton Juster

 

79. The Hello, Goodbye Window, by Norton Juster

Juster, N. (2005), The hello, goodbye window.  NY: Hyperion Books for Children. 

A little girl visits her grandparents' house. The kitchen window is a special gateway, where everything important happens. Told from her point of view, the story explores her special relationship with her grandparents through the window, by the window and around the window. She tells us how the window is perfect for looking into the kitchen from the porch to play a game of peek-a-boo with Nanna, and even turns into a mirror at night. She describes her experience with her grandparents and all the fun things there are to do in the house, as well as the things she has been told to stay away from. She helps Nanna in the garden and listens to Poppy plays the harmonica.  When her parents come to pick her up to go home, she is happy and sad at the same time, but she understands "it just happens that way sometimes."

I found two teacher guides with activities about family.  Students can interview a family member or create a family tree.  One activity suggests having students write about what they would see in their hello, goodbye window.  There are also comprehension questions in both guides.

https://media.btsb.com/TitleLessonPlans/2461.pdf

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/bookfairs/currconnection/hello_goodbye.htm

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