This charming picture book is partly an I-Spy. By reading the simple text, the reader can search for the related images on the pages, but it is also so much more. The worlds revealed through the windows create the opportunity for the reader to invent their own stories. Like putting together a puzzle, piece-by-piece, as the changing light of the day counter-posed with the the lighting of the indoor lights heightens the view from the streets outside, the windows allow pieces of the inhabitants to be revealed. This book, that’s words create interest in the world around accompanied by the richly colored and finely detailed illustrations, can help pique the readers own interests in discovering this great big wonderful world. These windows, teeming with similarities as well as differences, offer a glimpse into the unknown, making it friendly and inviting. Differences make us the same as much as the similarities! I highly recommend this book. It is creative and special.
How will I use this book?
This is a lovely book with a message of peace and acceptance. It is a perfect book to include in my youth yoga program as a jumping off point for creating yoga poses out of what we see in the story. I allow the kids to pick anything they see and create a yoga pose from it. There are some recognizable ones, like tree, cat and dog (downward facing or puppy dog), but kids can also make poses from bicycles, hanging clothes and star-burst clocks! The talking points revolve around acceptance, feeling of security and peace.
Windows meditation:
- Start seated or laying down and take in a few deep breaths.
- Feel your breath coming in and out through your nose.
- Focus your breath into your belly.
- Let yourself go and allow yourself to rest calmly.
- Imagine a window in front of you. You could be standing inside, looking-out or outside, looking-in.
- Through this window you will see yourself having happy times. These happy times can be with your family, with friends, by yourself or with an animal; they can be from vacations or at home; they can be of your favorite place to relax; they can be indoors or outdoors; they can be real and they can be imagined.
- Now settle your eyes on one happy moment. It does not have to be your favorite one just anyone your eyes rest on. Think about this happy time…how old were you? What’s the temperature? The smell? The colors?
- Let your self be wrapped up by all the sensations of this moment. You are safe, loved and relaxed.
- Inside each one of us, we carry images that can help us to feel grounded, focused and thankful. Bringing these images up during difficult moments can allow us to find the peace and stillness we have inherent inside each one of us.
This book was sent to me by Candlewick Press. All opinions are my own.
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