The Hello, Goodbye Window, by Norton Juster (our review)

We discovered this one about a year ago when we were looking for more books by author/illustrator Chris Raschka, who did such a fabulous job with Charlie Parker Plays Bee Bop. Even better, we found this great pairing between Raschka and Juster, author of The Phantom Tollbooth. Instant winner. It is a story told by little girl about the time she spends with her grandparents. It is touching and warm, with great details to catch the child's heart and imagination and just enough witty humor and  to make it enjoyable for the parent who will have to read and reread it again and again (Tyrannosaurus Rex? He's extinct, so he doesn't come around very often). The illustrations are also warm and have a messy and colorful quality that suggest a child's artwork.

Book review, 10/23/09: The Hello, Goodbye Window, by Norton Juster

Cortney: what's your favorite part in the book?

Calvin: the pizza delivery guy!

Cortney: oh yes, I like the Queen of England, too.

Calvin: yeah. And O Susannah. And there's a tiger in the garden, but really... it isn't.

(we won't always have video to go with these, but since we had this clip we took along with Mrs. O'Leary last week, I thought we'd use it.)

Mrs. O'Leary's Cow, by MaryAnne Hoberman (our review)

We read this book for the first time after we checked it out from the Ypsi Township library, which means it was about two years ago. It was an instant hit. Calvin still asks to check this book out from the library every chance he gets. We could break down and buy it for him, but it's been such a great lesson in library etiquette ("we must return it so that other kids can enjoy it, and if it is still here in two weeks, we can check it out again") that we are reluctant to do so. He'll probably get it for Christmas.

Since it's clearly his favorite, I thought this was a great place to start with the book reviews.

Book Review, 10/6: Mrs. O'Leary's Cow, by MaryAnne Hoberman

Cortney: So, what do you like about this book?

Calvin: I love the pretty pages

Cortney: And what's your favorite part?

Calvin: The smoke happening, when the smoke comes out, and it's a song. Can we read it again?

Cortney: But that would be the tenth time this morning! (okay, I wouldn't really say that, but I might suggest something a llittle more inspiring, like maybe some Robert Frost...or if he's really after a book about cows, how about some Thomas Hardy?).
There's really nothing remarkable about this book, but at least it's a song, so reading it over and over again isn't as bad as some others. That being said, every time I read it I feel sorry for the O'Learys, who must have had a rough time of it after a newspaper reporter, eager for readers, blamed the great fire of 1871 on their poor old cow and didn't retract that statement or admit to the slander until over twenty years later. It is a fun song, though.