At the Window

by Hope Lim, Qin Leng (illustrator)

Spare, layered text and soft, shimmering watercolor illustrations reveal how curiosity—and a change in perspective—can light up the world and forge surprising friendships.

Every day, a child walking a dog around the block passes a woman seated in her wide front window. What is she doing? What does she see? Days pass, and the two neighbors exchange smiles, nods, and waves. Soon they’re calling out “Hello!” But one day, the child finds the wide window empty and a For Sale sign on the lawn. When the opportunity to look out through, instead of up into, that now-lonely window arrives, the rewards ripple out in heartwarming ways. This wondrous and beautifully illustrated picture-book ode to intergenerational friendship invites readers to reflect on how a different frame of reference can utterly transform the familiar and lead to completely new delights.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Realistic Fiction, Writing, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

Hope Lim is the author of I AM A BIRD (Candlewick), MY TREE (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House) and MOMMY’S HOMETOWN (Candlewick), SOURGRASS (Beach Lane Books/S&S) and AT THE WINDOW (Candlewick). Born and raised in South Korea, Hope currently lives in San Francisco with her family and puppy, Bear.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the way this is illustrated, panels but no hard lines. A lovely story as well.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl walks her puppy everyday, and notices a friendly-looking woman on her street who is always sitting at an open window in her house, looking out, and writing. They begin to exchange greetings, but one day, the woman moves away, and her house is for sale. The girl asks her mom if they can go look inside it, and she sees her former neighbor’s window from the inside for the first time. She loves all the sun and light and the sweeping view of their block.

When they get back home, she asks her mom if they could open the curtains and the big window in their own house. She sees all that she had been missing, and sits at the window and begins to write, like her former neighbor. The final panel shows a young boy studying a drawing that she made and sent to him.

Delicate and airy ink and watercolor illustrations by Qin Leng reminded me a bit of Ludwig Bemelman, who also used ink and watercolor for his Madeline books. The neighborhood is depicted as appealing on different levels, with the artwork helping to show why looking at the world from a different perspective can impart an entirely different view of reality.

Readers aged 3 and over will be charmed by this simple story and its message.

[Vera Godley]

At the Window is a beautifully illustrated encounter of a young girl that daily walks the dog in the neighborhood and passes a house at which the window is not curtained and is always occupied by a lady occupied with tasks at her desk or table. Eventually, a casual "hello" relationship develops until..... then the "story" begins to develop depth.

Written with easy flow text the "take aways" for me are....

🔷Daily responsibilities carried out with delight and faithfulness
🔷Attention to detail of surroundings
🔷Encouragement to encounter others with gentle friendliness
🔷Awareness of surroundings
🔷Grasp of another's view
🔷Understanding of vastness a different view can give one when you look at surroundings from another vantage point.

Of course, that isn't all "spelled out" in the story, but I do find these ideas in the theme of the story and the beautiful illustrations.

I think this an ideal book for all libraries and personal collections for children that are given the privilege of walking the dog.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thoughtful story is beautifully illustrated with a nostalgic feel. As a child and dog stroll through their neighborhood, they begin to form a connection with a neighbor who’s a writer and works by her front window every day. This book reminded me of my childhood, discovering all the adventures available even in my own small neighborhood. Readers of all ages will connect to the big themes in this book of staying open to adventure, paying attention to what’s around you, building community, forming intergenerational friendships, and learning to look at things from another’s perspective. This book is also about how a small interaction can make a big impact on a child’s life. Watching the woman write at her window inspires the child to try writing, and seeing the neighborhood from the neighbor’s window after she moves gives the child a fresh perspective on the neighborhood. A lovely book for the child or the writer in your life!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a few words, Hope Lim allows us to walk along with a young girl while she walks her dog. Along the way, Qin Leng showcases what's there in her softly colored illustrations. The girl sees a neighbor in her window, seeming to work at a desk, and the girl wonders why the curtains are wide open, not like at her home where all the curtains are closed. After several days of walking by, they begin to smile and wave, then talk a bit. But, one day, there is noone there; the house is dark, and the girl realizes that her neighbor has moved away. She goes home and creates her own "lookout", opening curtains, and loves the surprise of all she can see! It's a nice story of connection, along with thinking about paying attention and perhaps changing what has always been into something new.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for my copy!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely thoughtful picture book that delivers its message with subtlety, highlighted by Qin Leng's soft pastel illustrations.

A little girl and her dog pass by the big open window of a neighboring woman who is working there every day. The child wonders what she is doing but only after a long period does she make eye contact, share smiles and finally small conversation. But one day a For Sale sign sits outside the house and the woman is gone. Convincing her mother to go in with an open house, the little girls sees the wide view from the open window and then opens her own window to the world.

Simple text never instructs but the intent is beautifully clear and wonderfully delivered by words and pictures. Excellent to read aloud. A terrific discussion starter or writing prompt.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl walking her dog makes observations about her neighbourhood, particularly a woman whom she sees in a window each day. Eventually, the two begin to call out to each other in greeting.

Then one day the window is empty - the neighbour has moved and the girl has the opportunity to see from inside the house the perspective the woman had. She finds it inspiring. She's inspired to change her own view, which leads to a redecorated bedroom and a new friend.

This is a gorgeous picture book. The illustrations and text are poetic. It perhaps won't grab all children, but it's lovely all the same.

[Anitra Rowe Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

"At the Window" is a beautiful story about perspective, relationships, and community. A child walks past a wide open window, with no curtains, day after day. Over time, the child befriends the woman sitting in the window, a writer. Then one day, the woman moves, and the child gets the opportunity to go through the woman's empty home. It delivers a revelatory experience, as the child now sees what the woman saw, from her point of view. The experience inspires the child to throw open the curtains at home, which leads to sweet and surprising discoveries. "At the Window" is a very special story, subtle and tender in communicating how powerful it can be to consider things from new angles.

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quiet, thoughtful, and deep story about learning to observe the world around us. As a child walks their dog each day, they pass by a woman sitting in her living room window, working. The two begin to exchange hellos and begin a cordial relationship but it's cut short when the woman moves away. The child is able to go inside during an open house and see the world through the neighbor's eyes. After returning home, the child is inspired to open their own window wide, and begins to write stories about what they observe. The gorgeous illustrations have a classic feel and lots of detail will engage the child reader in making their own observations about the active neighborhood.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously illustrated with wonderful detail. This book is about a child who starts a causal relationship with a writer who lives down the street, who always has their window open. One day, the writer moves away, and the child wonders what their life would bring if they opened their window up a little wider and start observing the world. Would it spark their own creativity?

Key themes include intergenerational friendships, curiosity and observation, perspective and empathy, loss and change, creativity and inspiration, and community belonging. Always enjoy illustrator Qin Leng's (Over the Shop) drawings. Might be good choice for older an older youth storytime.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm such a fan of Hope Lim's gentle, observant picture books, and her latest, At the Window, is no exception. On her daily walks with her puppy, a young child notices her adult neighbor, who sits at her window day after day. What is she doing? What is she looking out at? Without giving too much away, this story celebrates sweet, every day moments of connection and change. With wonderful illustrations by Leng Qin, the book is a beautiful, childlike slice-of-life that will inspire writers young and old.

This would be fun to pair with Windows, by Julia Denos and E.B. Goodale.

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story.
I love thinking about neighbours & people in our community, and the little moments when we interact with them throughout our days.
This one is beautifully illustrated, and gives a little glimpse into the power of a smile and a wave.

I think my only "critique" is that small readers will be a little disappointed with the "missed opportunity", and the lack of a "happy ending" (that they have come to expect from children's books). However I think as adults reading this with young children, we can lean into this message, and spark conversation!

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the bright yellow end pages, the adorable scruffy puppy, the quirky old homes and the big, wide-open window that lets out into the world the inhabitant while at the same time, it lets the outer world in. It creates a sense of wonderment and how an open window can create a sense of community and friendship-even with just a smile or a wave. What will you see through your window or through all the windows in the world? This is a book about curiosity and friendship and being open to new experiences.

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

At The Window is a beautiful, powerful, unique, potent, and delightful read! This story highlights how a budding friendly acquaintance builds during a daily routine. A young child walks their dog past a neighbor's house every day and every day the child wonders what the neighbor is doing at the window. As their friendship grows, the child becomes intrugued and inspired by the neighbor's unique perspective. How the child sees their neighborhood and the people in it begins to shift.

[Abi Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by Hope Lim! This story is so so sweet. It's a simple, gentle story about a girl seeing her neighbor at her big apartment window everyday until the neighbor moves, and the girl goes into the apartment and sees the street from the neighbor's perspective. The illustrations by Qin Leng are full of wonder and whimsy and really bring the story to life. It's a relatable slice of life story but also makes you think about taking the time to see things in a new perspective.

[Laura Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

While walking their dog everyday, a child sees a woman in her front window and wonders what she is doing. Over time after waving and saying hellto each other, they develop an intergenerational friendship. The child discovers the woman is a writer. When the woman moves away, her house goes up for sale, the child has an opportunity to actually see out the woman's front window, getting a whole new perspective of the view of the street and beyond. The child gains inspiration for what is out there in the world and discovers that she could write sitting at her own window. For ages 4-9.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl and her dog walk by a woman working in her window every day. With beautiful illustrations and sparse text, this book shares how the smallest of interactions can alter someone's perspective. You never truly know the effect you have on others and this book shares one small example of that through a child's eyes.

[Mia Wenjen]

A girl walking her dog meets her neighbor through the window. They wave and pass pleasantries. One day, the house is empty. The neighbor has moved away, but now there is another child with a dog looking for a friend. And new friendships are made. This picture book shows the ripple effect of a single friendly gesture.

[Candy Wellins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about the importance of perspective. A child observes a neighbor at her window and has ideas about who this person is. But it isn't until she gets to know the person (and see things from her literal POV), that she starts to really understand her. This would be a great boy for teaching kids to see things from another person's perspective or for teaching POV in writing.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👧🏻reviews: What a sweet story book about neighbors becoming friends. This awesome story started with a window that openedto other opportunities. I love this simple story but with plenty of emotional connection. Enjoyed this one thoroughly.

[Patricia Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the combination of spare text, expressive illustrations, and simplicity in this new book by Hope Lim and Qin Leng. A quiet story about the power of perspective and possibility. A must for your book shelf!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about perspective and appreciating what's literally right outside your window

[Daniell · Rating 4 out of 5]

a quiet book about the possibilities of open windows and the small/big impacts of connecting with others.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet, beautiful story about noticing, finding community. Lovely

[Alyson Indrunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrated book research.

"...and writing, like me."

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely!

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle book about perspective, community, and change. The illustrations are lovely. This is a quieter read, good for winding down for bedtime or quiet time.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Missed opportunities" is the theme of this gentle story of young girl and her little dog Bear who walk by a neighbor's window every day and gradually offer each other small greetings, until the day comes when the woman at the window is no longer there and soon a FOR SALE sign is posted. The girl ponders where the woman has moved to and considers if she is thinking, like her, wondering about her life.

Qin Leng's gentle but cartoon-like, pastel illustrations provide detail of the walk pattern the girl and her dog take every day as well as finer details of expressions on the girl's face. The gentle illustrations truly enhance this sweet story.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holt-Delhi library PJ story time 07-23-2025