Chris Raschka

Daisy's back. She, her blue ball and her owner are off to the park. Somehow the cliche of dogs following squirrels doesn't feel overdone in this book. Daisy is distracted from her beloved blue ball and runs off in search of the squirrel. Raschka manages to convey the universal fear of isolation in the look of one forlorn little doggie. Daisy's guttural "aawoooooooooooooooo" emanates from a scared place that we share. Her subsequent reunion with her owner is equally emotional. Kudos to show more Raschka for a book that resonates across species.

Because this book is so relatable, I would definitely use it with my elementary students. I think I have enough books for that wordless book week I mentioned in another review. Now to think about the order of presentation. This book and A Ball Daisy would likely come early on in the week, maybe as openers, as they require a bit less interpretation than some other wordless books. Great warmup for drawing inferences and providing "textual" support for those inferences. show less

I needed this. I know that Paul's epistles are more intricate than Raschka's portrayal of them here (and I love them for that), but I'm so grateful to have these simple messages to comfort and chide and reassure me until I make time to dive more deeply into the books. "You refresh the very hearts of the saints," Paul (and Mr. Raschka).

On the title page, a little girl springs away from her parents; turn the page, and the reader sees only her arms on the gate, the reader taking her perspective as she looks over to the white clapboard house where her Nanna and Poppy’s faces stare equally eagerly out of the Hello, Goodbye Window.

The exuberant tot proceeds to spend a thoroughly idyllic overnight with her loving grandparents, the stay punctuated by a harmonica serenade, a bike ride (“Not in the street, please”) and a nap. show more Juster adopts the voice of the child, whose present-tense narration is just right, describing pleasures (saying good night to the stars) and perils (the tiger at the back of the garden) with a steady, sweet candor. Raschka’s mixed-media illustrations are characteristically loose and energetic, depicting this happy, biracial family with jewel tones and extravagant swirls.

As the little girl unwinds at the end of the stay, she imagines the many possible visitors who might come to the Hello, Goodbye Window—but no one is more happily welcomed than her parents, who pick her up after her picture-perfect day. (Picture book. 3-7)

-Kirkus Review show less

I love how this moves from playing together to playing independently (but still nearby) to teaching to simply being present and available with one another, capturing all the ways fathers can be positive presences in their children's lives. I love, too, the diversity of the pairings, especially the (burly) father who is a "dreamer" to his child's "doer." Lovely.