Neville

Author: Norton Juster
Illustrator:   G. Brian Karas
Publisher:  schwartz & wade book
Publication Year:   2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   featured on "Calling Caldecott" blog, SLJ & Booklist starred reviews

Summary:  When a boy moves into a new neighborhood, he is worried about trying to make new friends. Then he stops and (strangely) calls out "Neville." Soon all the kids in the neighborhood come to join in. The illustrations start grey and uniform and soon turn to varied colors and fonts. All the kids want to know about Neville and are excited to learn more about him from the boy. The kids soon wander off and when the boy returns home the reader discovers that he himself is Neville.

Classroom Ideas: This book is a great one for problem and solution. The mood is very obvious in the illustrations as Neville becomes more hopeful about his new life. And, everyone will want to know what happens next, so a story about Neville's next day would be a perfect writing assignment.

The Hello, Goodbye Window

Author: Norton Juster
Illustrator:   Chris Raschka
Publisher:  Hyperion Books for Children
Publication Year:   2005
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Caldecott, ALA Notable, SLJ Best Books, Parenting Magazine Best Book, Horn Book Honor, NYT Best Illustrated

Summary:  At Nanny & Poppy's house there is a special window: a hello, goodbye window. But the rest of the house is pretty amazing too. The narrator's pure love for his grandparents and their house just jumps off the page. Raschka's vibrant colorful child-like illustration are gorgeous and the reader can't help but fall in love with Nanny & Poppy's house! (I couldn't find it online, but the illustration of the house at night is my favorite.)

Classroom Ideas: This is such a perfect book as a mentor text. Once they've read it, kids can write and illustrate a story about a special place in their life.