Out the Window
Written and Illustrated by Cybèle Young
Groundwood Books 2/25/2013
978- 1-55498-370-4
30 pages Ages 1—4
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“It’s frustrating when you accidentally throw your ball out the window, especially if you are just too small to see where it has gone. But ingenuity saves the day in this cleverly constructed board book, and flipping the book over reveals a wonderful surprise-an amazing and inventive parade!” [PUBLISHER YOUTUBE DESCRIPTIOON]
Review
The brown critter is not quite a hamster, a mouse, or a little bear, but no need to fret; he is a cute critter suitable for the protagonist. He or she dribbles the blue-spotted orange ball then tosses it towards the white space. Oh, no! There is a window in that white space and . . . it’s open!
Our cute little critter must be playing ball against an inside wall—maybe from his or her bedroom. The critter accidentally tosses the ball out the open window. Yikes! Now it is lost and I have some questions: Where does the ball go? Does it land or keep moving along? Will our hero ever get his toy returned?
A typical board book? Nope. Out the Window lacks the spreads of traditional books. Instead, Out the Window opens like an accordion, with the story continuing without dialogue, or much of anything else beyond images—or text. The story has what could amount to two chapters: Chapter 1 on the front and chapter 2 on the reverse.
This gorgeous board book begins by having you remove the slipcover. Then, open the boards one-by-one until you have a long story, which then instructs you to turn the entire book over and begin again—from the back of each page. Alternatively, you can spread out the book, front side first, until you have one long—nearly 7.5 feet (15 feet total)—of story. Reach the end, flip it over, and continue. Simple, just as a board book should be for new readers.
I requested Out the Window. It is not a new 2016 release, but should be a perennial favorite. Out the Window is gorgeous, a fun to read, and will appeal to young children who will love opening a book like an accordion. Once open, children will find the only words in this active story telling them to flip the book over. Doing so gives both children and the little brown critter—our protagonist—the answer as to where the colorful dark blue spotted orange ball went when it flew out the window.
What were those colorful images the little critter—was that you? Partially see pass beyond his or her (or your) window? Now able to peer out the same window from which the ball flew out, the scene becomes livelier as children learn what those oddly interesting images were, complete with movement.
Seriously, read Out the Window and meet the little brown critter. And kids, you can be the critter with a smidgeon of imagination. Highly recommended.
This excerpt is taken from Out the Window, text copyright and illustrations copyright © 2013 by Cybèle Young. Reproduced with permission from Groundwood Books, Toronto. www.groundwoodbooks.com
Amazon—Indie Books—Groundwood Books
Add Out the Window to Your Goodreads Shelf HERE.
Reprinted with permission from OUT THE WINDOW © 2013 by Cybèle Young, Groundwood Books, an imprint of House of Anasi Press, Illustrations © 2013 by Cybèle Young.
Photograph© 2016 by SMorris/Kid Lit Reviews
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Copyright © 2016 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved
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Out the Window
Written and Illustrated by Cybèle Young
Groundwood Books 2/25/2013
9781554983704
Very cool concept for a book!
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It is. Are you being kind (acting like you’d never seen* Out the Window*? This released in 2013, you sure you didn’t review it then? You would love it. Josie would probably understand this story better than most. She is such a wonderful artist (I’m still waiting for my Josie original). Wouldn’t it be great if she made a board book without words—and let me review it here, first (a point is a point). 🙂 (Just some thoughts that rambled and rolled out my fingertips.)
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This book is a joy for the eyes and the wordless story and characters look SO appealing. Thanks for telling us about it, Sue! 😀
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This is an oldy (2013) and always goody. I knew this would be a hit here when I came upon it. Not that I am smart, the work is great. The unnamed character is pretty cool. He or she is not as quiet as one might think.
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You know, I didn’t pay attention to the date and was looking for this one and Peek-a-Choo-Choo in Barnes the other day. Sadly, neither were there!
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I bet with board books the bookstores keep things up to date, I really do not know. But Peek-a Choo Choo! released the same day i reviewed it. That should be on their shelves–I sould think. Nina Laden is a p opular BB author. Out of the Box is still available from the publisher’s website. Good luck.
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Thanks, Sue 🙂
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So fun. Once my ball went under the couch.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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Oh, my. Was there a parade under there, too? We just have dust bunnies.
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Wow! A book without a spine! Love this “out of the box (or slipcover)” idea.
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All artists will love this, so your in. I hope more are created, but they must tell a full story—hard stuff—but Young is brilliant.
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This is so adorable! I love the illustrations!! Another for my list!
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Make it a long list. This little beauty opens up to a full 7.5 feet! Kids and us adults will love it.
Once it is in your hands., can you return and let us all know what you think?
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