Windows by Julia Denos; illustrated by E.B. Goodale. 2017. Ink, watercolor, letterpress, and digital collage. Published by Candlewick Press.
Brief summary: A boy takes his dog for a walk at dusk watching all of his neighbors through their windows. Each window gives a glimpse into a person’s life at that moment. When he arrives back to his house, he sees his mom standing in their picture window waving at him.
Comments: I believe most young readers will be able to relate to this story of how the boy learns about his different neighbors just by looking in their windows as he walks his dog. We surmise that he walks the dog each night at the same time and gets to see their stories unfold over weeks, months, and years.
I drive through my neighborhood to work just as a few people are getting up and have learned some of their stories. I am always surprised how no one closes the blinds in the city. I think when I read this to my students, it will be remembered and have more meaning when they walk at dusk or dawn through their neighborhoods looking at the lit windows.
