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Window
Chronicles the events and changes in a young boy's life and in his environment, from babyhood to grown-up, through wordless scenes observed from the window of his room
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 1991
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906 people want to read
About the author
Jeannie Baker
26 books89 followersJeannie Baker is the author-illustrator of a number of children’s picture books, including the critically celebrated Mirror and the award-winning Where the Forest Meets the Sea. Born in England, she now lives in Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
September 18, 2022
After really enjoying 'Belonging' I expected to love 'Window' just as much. Perhaps it was reading the authors note about ecological damage after reading in her last book how she collected sponges for her collage that made this seem a like an example of practise what you preach, but where I found 'Belonging' subtle and touching I found this frustrating.
The story starts with a mother and baby looking at a countryside close to utopia, mountains and trees, nothing else. Like 'Belonging' this window scene shows small details to mark the passing of the baby's years. I found the book very negative, within 16 years this isolated house in the country has had a city spring up around it complete with airport, even the mountains disappear. Decay in the garden accompanies a missile hung from the window, a boy aiming a catapult, mac Donald's packets on the windowsill. When the boy grows up and has a baby of his own he moves away to an ideal spot of unspoilt beauty and you can tell what you're meant to think happens next.
A pity, 'Belonging' was lovely but this felt like being sledgehammered with a message and then hit again once you'd got up. The illustrations are intricate and interesting.
The story starts with a mother and baby looking at a countryside close to utopia, mountains and trees, nothing else. Like 'Belonging' this window scene shows small details to mark the passing of the baby's years. I found the book very negative, within 16 years this isolated house in the country has had a city spring up around it complete with airport, even the mountains disappear. Decay in the garden accompanies a missile hung from the window, a boy aiming a catapult, mac Donald's packets on the windowsill. When the boy grows up and has a baby of his own he moves away to an ideal spot of unspoilt beauty and you can tell what you're meant to think happens next.
A pity, 'Belonging' was lovely but this felt like being sledgehammered with a message and then hit again once you'd got up. The illustrations are intricate and interesting.
February 16, 2011
I just finished reading Baker’s book Home which I found uplifting. This book I found quite depressing. I am a city person but the humans overrunning these two landscapes I did not find appealing.
This is the almost wordless story of a boy growing up in the country that becomes a much more populated area, has a baby of his own, back in another area that’s undeveloped, yet with development slated to soon start. As with Home, Bake uses specific age birthday cards and other objects and kids’ growth with which to show the passage of years.
Not quite sure what the boy was aiming at with the slingshot but I didn’t much like that picture. However, overall, the collage illustrations are outstanding. And there’s a cat!
There is an author’s note at the end, even though this story is fictional, about how wilderness is disappearing and how humans are impacting the planet. Her books would be good adjunct material to lessons on ecology and sustainability. The note has a tinge of hope, though I found it sobering, although not as depressing as the story itself.
The collage illustrations are amazing. Although I’m not sure how much I actually enjoyed reading this, and vacillated between giving it 5, 4, or even 3 stars, I think it’s sufficiently outstanding to earn full marks. 4 ½ stars
This is the almost wordless story of a boy growing up in the country that becomes a much more populated area, has a baby of his own, back in another area that’s undeveloped, yet with development slated to soon start. As with Home, Bake uses specific age birthday cards and other objects and kids’ growth with which to show the passage of years.
Not quite sure what the boy was aiming at with the slingshot but I didn’t much like that picture. However, overall, the collage illustrations are outstanding. And there’s a cat!
There is an author’s note at the end, even though this story is fictional, about how wilderness is disappearing and how humans are impacting the planet. Her books would be good adjunct material to lessons on ecology and sustainability. The note has a tinge of hope, though I found it sobering, although not as depressing as the story itself.
The collage illustrations are amazing. Although I’m not sure how much I actually enjoyed reading this, and vacillated between giving it 5, 4, or even 3 stars, I think it’s sufficiently outstanding to earn full marks. 4 ½ stars
January 27, 2019
An absolutely brilliant book which shows the changes over 5, 10 and 20 years of living in the countryside and buildings and houses taking over. Great note from the author in the back of the book about how quickly our world is changing
September 22, 2012
I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it for children of all ages. The book consists of a series of pictures of a landscape, framed by a bedroom window. The bedroom belongs to a boy, and as he grows older you see how the landscape changes. Beginning as a rural, unspoiled setting, the view gradually transforms into an urban, built up environment.
The illustrations are brilliant, and have a physical depth to them, that makes them seem almost raised from the page, as if in 3D.
An interesting feature of the book is that Baker doesn't use any words at all, leaving the pictures alone to tell the story. This, I think, makes it a great book to look at with children, in groups or individually, to see what they think is happening. It would be really interesting to see how different children interpret the illustrations differently.
In a sense, the reader gets to be the storyteller with this book, so it could be a great way to exercise children's imagination, verbal and written skills, to tell the story as they see it.
The illustrations are brilliant, and have a physical depth to them, that makes them seem almost raised from the page, as if in 3D.
An interesting feature of the book is that Baker doesn't use any words at all, leaving the pictures alone to tell the story. This, I think, makes it a great book to look at with children, in groups or individually, to see what they think is happening. It would be really interesting to see how different children interpret the illustrations differently.
In a sense, the reader gets to be the storyteller with this book, so it could be a great way to exercise children's imagination, verbal and written skills, to tell the story as they see it.
August 12, 2010
I personally like Home better than this wordless picture book since it is more hopeful. Of course on the other hand Window definitely realistically portrays what is happening with cities and the countryside.
Baker's collages are extremely complex and even a bit freaky looking. I can't imagine how much time it takes for her to create a book like this. I read a little about her process and some of the books take years. She even uses real plant matter!!!
Baker's collages are extremely complex and even a bit freaky looking. I can't imagine how much time it takes for her to create a book like this. I read a little about her process and some of the books take years. She even uses real plant matter!!!
August 31, 2017
The summary really says it all. This is a picture only book that shows how the times change. And not always for the better. The lesson hits home, especially when the grafiit goes up, all the trees are gone, etc. but a bit unrealistic for many place to go the lonely country side to a major city in so few years. But it gets the point across. Would have worked better I think if we watched from being a baby to a older grandpa who maybe moves with is grown children into the countryside once more. I liked the art. Lots of details and things to take notice of. See what changes or different things your kids spot on each page!
February 16, 2011
What fascinated me about the book were the illustrations, which are done in 3-D collages. A boy looks out a window at the same scene over time, and we see the changes that take place in the landscape. Jeannie Baker is a master at this type of illustration.
April 4, 2019
Lovely illustrations which tell the story of the development of a child's view from their window over time without text. Could be used to teach about global citizenship for all ages including KS2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2019
This is a similar book to Home by Jeannie Baker. They are both wordless books, and feature gorgeous collage illustrations.
The biggest difference is that while Home depicts a bad neighborhood becoming fresh and green and revitalized, this book depicts a pristine wooded area becoming a city and becoming filled with people, cars, and buildings. We liked both books, but Home is our favorite.
The biggest difference is that while Home depicts a bad neighborhood becoming fresh and green and revitalized, this book depicts a pristine wooded area becoming a city and becoming filled with people, cars, and buildings. We liked both books, but Home is our favorite.
September 16, 2016
A powerful, wordless picturebook based on conservation. The story is told so cleverly through the life of a girl and her window. The reader watches, year after year, as the landscape undergoes dramatic change. The reader is rooted to the spot and can only watch as what was once a lush forest is destroyed in order to make way for housing. The final picture, I find is powerful too and one that would generate discussion in children of all ages.
July 20, 2022
Time to let this go to a certain young family that I know will appreciate it.
I appreciate how Baker suckers us into rooting for this young family making a home for themselves... until we see what else is going on. The ah-ha moment for me is when I see the boy aiming the slingshot at the doves. Some readers might not have that moment until the last page, or until the author's note at the end, but it's important, unmistakable, and memorable, once realized.
I appreciate how Baker suckers us into rooting for this young family making a home for themselves... until we see what else is going on. The ah-ha moment for me is when I see the boy aiming the slingshot at the doves. Some readers might not have that moment until the last page, or until the author's note at the end, but it's important, unmistakable, and memorable, once realized.
December 7, 2018
Window, a wordless picture book, is incredibly effective at communicating its message to readers without the need for text alongside the collage constructions.
Baker provides the audience with the same viewpoint, a window, throughout the entire book. However, as the story progresses and time passes, the view that can be seen from the window gradually changes to show the consequences that occur over part of the boy's life. Changes that can be observed include building developments, a decrease in nature/ wildlife, deforestation, urbanisation and human population increase. The book ends with the boy, who is now grown up with his own child, stood at a new window with the view resembling the one at the very start of the book (and at the start of his childhood).
The cyclical nature suggests that the boy and his new family have moved away to start afresh but doubt sets in as the reader is left to wonder whether the process will occur all over again.
Baker's carefully assembled collages are impactful as enable the reader to realise that the small changes made to the environment add up to produce threatening outcomes.
This book, which has been used in school, is brilliant at getting children to make inferences based on the pictures, to question the changes that arise throughout and to develop an appreciation of the natural environment.
Baker provides the audience with the same viewpoint, a window, throughout the entire book. However, as the story progresses and time passes, the view that can be seen from the window gradually changes to show the consequences that occur over part of the boy's life. Changes that can be observed include building developments, a decrease in nature/ wildlife, deforestation, urbanisation and human population increase. The book ends with the boy, who is now grown up with his own child, stood at a new window with the view resembling the one at the very start of the book (and at the start of his childhood).
The cyclical nature suggests that the boy and his new family have moved away to start afresh but doubt sets in as the reader is left to wonder whether the process will occur all over again.
Baker's carefully assembled collages are impactful as enable the reader to realise that the small changes made to the environment add up to produce threatening outcomes.
This book, which has been used in school, is brilliant at getting children to make inferences based on the pictures, to question the changes that arise throughout and to develop an appreciation of the natural environment.
September 22, 2018
I found this such an engaging and dramatic depiction of the dynamic changes that are happening consistently in our world. Although perhaps the first image of the countryside landscape is what we would hope our world to remain as, in reality, population is ever-increasing and industrialisation is ever-expanding. This is a book that can be used across various age groups and is such a powerful way for children to interpret and visualise their surroundings, in understanding how and why our world is changing.
December 10, 2018
I used this picture book during my sequence of English lessons on 'Rainforests'. I focused on this book during my starter activity in which I gave each table a different picture from the book.
I think this book had a major impact upon the children, emphasising the importance of protecting our rainforests and the impact of urbanisation.
The illustrations are powerful, hard hitting and effective thus I believe this book is accessible for all ages.
I think this book had a major impact upon the children, emphasising the importance of protecting our rainforests and the impact of urbanisation.
The illustrations are powerful, hard hitting and effective thus I believe this book is accessible for all ages.
May 14, 2017
This wordless picturebook has a powerful (and quite depressing) message, as summarized in the author's note at the end of the book: "We are changing the face of our world at an alarming and an increasing pace."
Jeannie Baker's collage constructions in Window are as breathtakingly detailed as ever:
Jeannie Baker's collage constructions in Window are as breathtakingly detailed as ever:
Read
April 26, 2019Illustrated with elaborate and gorgeous collage, Window is a wordless picture book that speaks volumes. It begins with a mother and baby looking through a window at a view of wilderness and sky as far as the eye can see. With each page, the boy grows and the scene changes, from forest, to a single house, to a village and then to a city.
June 25, 2021
This is a wordless picture book that shows the world from the view of a window. It shows how things change around us all the time.
This book would be useful to use when teaching about the environment and the impact that people can have on this
This book would be useful to use when teaching about the environment and the impact that people can have on this
January 4, 2022
Intricate and amazing collages.
Progressing scenes with a sad message. Upon closely studying each collage I became more and more impressed. I can't begin to know how long each took to construct.
Amazing work.
Progressing scenes with a sad message. Upon closely studying each collage I became more and more impressed. I can't begin to know how long each took to construct.
Amazing work.
September 22, 2018
Beautifully told story in pictures. The details are a perfect touch.
January 27, 2019
This book was used during World Book Week whilst I was on placement last year. The whole school used it to base work around, all the way from reception through to year 6! I loved exploring this book with year 1, looking at the different views through the window, writing sentences about what we could see.
April 16, 2019
Fantastic picture book! Great as part of the topic of global citizenship and could be used from Yr1 up to Yr6. The detailed changing images throughout the book could be a great stimulus for teaching about the environment, or as starting points for discussion. Many creative writing pieces could be drawn upon as well as art ideas!
January 6, 2020
A lovely book that explores what happens to the world as it undergoes change in transport, energy and population without the use of words. Although, it is definitely a book that needs to be shared with a grown up/peer so that observations can be discussed.
November 1, 2018
This book surprised me, I found it quite emotional and I loved the story.
October 8, 2019
This would be great to use to to show change, especially climate change and deforestation.
May 20, 2021
A powerful picture book that explores the changes in landscape seen through a window. Plenty of learning opportunities within this book.
January 22, 2021
Es que és tan putament bo i té tants detalls que 😍
October 8, 2019
This is avery powerful wordless picture book. This book hows how the view from the house window changes overtime and due to global warming, climate change and the building more houses. This book has lots of cross curricular links for example geography and learning about climate change or art where the children draw their own view from their window.
September 29, 2019
A lovely picture book that gives a snapshot of the changing environment in the Australian Bush.
The book is composed of double-page spread collages created by Baker which together provide a narrative through a boy's life, or create a complex scene as stand-alone pieces.
Window is accessible for all ages and does not require any prior knowledge around the subject. However, discussion around the impact of humans on their environment and related issues would facilitate a deeper understanding of the book.
There are many potential uses for this book in a classroom and it could easily be engaged with across the curriculum.
Examples for KS1:
• Identifying features in the environment
• Telling a story about what is happening in the scene
• Looking at contrast between rural and urban scenes
• Creating own artwork of the view from a window
• Discussion around chronology of Sam’s life – could lead to creating own story map
• Using different scenes to practice sentences using different grammatical features, e.g. adjectives
Examples for KS2:
• Understanding impact of urbanisation and deforestation
• Investigating the use of artwork in relaying an important message
• Using/ creating collage pieces (and including an important personal message)
• Understanding the author’s motivations
• Creative writing using one or more scenes as a starting point
The book is composed of double-page spread collages created by Baker which together provide a narrative through a boy's life, or create a complex scene as stand-alone pieces.
Window is accessible for all ages and does not require any prior knowledge around the subject. However, discussion around the impact of humans on their environment and related issues would facilitate a deeper understanding of the book.
There are many potential uses for this book in a classroom and it could easily be engaged with across the curriculum.
Examples for KS1:
• Identifying features in the environment
• Telling a story about what is happening in the scene
• Looking at contrast between rural and urban scenes
• Creating own artwork of the view from a window
• Discussion around chronology of Sam’s life – could lead to creating own story map
• Using different scenes to practice sentences using different grammatical features, e.g. adjectives
Examples for KS2:
• Understanding impact of urbanisation and deforestation
• Investigating the use of artwork in relaying an important message
• Using/ creating collage pieces (and including an important personal message)
• Understanding the author’s motivations
• Creative writing using one or more scenes as a starting point
September 3, 2015
The most important children’s books combine entertainment and enjoyability with a more meaningful message; educating children not only in terms of literacy, but about the world around them.
Window by Jeannie Baker is a picture book; its illustrations present the reader with the story of a boy and the view from his bedroom window of the landscape below. As he grows up, the area he observes gradually develops from a lush, rural wilderness to a highly urbanised scene. The message is clear: humans are drastically and directly changing the planet through their actions.
The book is incredibly thought provoking, a large part of this is due to its wordlessness. By providing only images, Baker allows her reader the freedom to develop their own responses to what she presents on the pages. This would make Window a valuable foundation for classroom discussion, hopefully encouraging children to develop their own perspective on social issues such as population growth, pollution and the destruction of natural habitats. These are all issues that will greatly affect their generation and it is important that children are aware of the social implications that such changes create. This book could therefore also be a great tool for linking literacy to other areas of the curriculum such as geography. The absence of words also makes this book a great potential starting point for creative writing; an interesting task would be to ask students to write a story to accompany the images. Children would have to reach into their imagination to think about how the characters might think or feel about their environment, thus developing their sense of empathy in the process.
The illustrations themselves are beautiful; created from photographs of Baker’s own multi-media collages, they have a physical depth that makes them visually unique. The amount of detail within each page means that there is a multitude of starting points for discussion and exploration as well as aesthetic appreciation.
Window is an excellent book for encouraging children’s awareness of their surroundings and how they themselves impact on them, it is also a beautifully crafted and enjoyable book, accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities.
Window by Jeannie Baker is a picture book; its illustrations present the reader with the story of a boy and the view from his bedroom window of the landscape below. As he grows up, the area he observes gradually develops from a lush, rural wilderness to a highly urbanised scene. The message is clear: humans are drastically and directly changing the planet through their actions.
The book is incredibly thought provoking, a large part of this is due to its wordlessness. By providing only images, Baker allows her reader the freedom to develop their own responses to what she presents on the pages. This would make Window a valuable foundation for classroom discussion, hopefully encouraging children to develop their own perspective on social issues such as population growth, pollution and the destruction of natural habitats. These are all issues that will greatly affect their generation and it is important that children are aware of the social implications that such changes create. This book could therefore also be a great tool for linking literacy to other areas of the curriculum such as geography. The absence of words also makes this book a great potential starting point for creative writing; an interesting task would be to ask students to write a story to accompany the images. Children would have to reach into their imagination to think about how the characters might think or feel about their environment, thus developing their sense of empathy in the process.
The illustrations themselves are beautiful; created from photographs of Baker’s own multi-media collages, they have a physical depth that makes them visually unique. The amount of detail within each page means that there is a multitude of starting points for discussion and exploration as well as aesthetic appreciation.
Window is an excellent book for encouraging children’s awareness of their surroundings and how they themselves impact on them, it is also a beautifully crafted and enjoyable book, accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities.
May 9, 2009
While Home focuses on urban renewal - this book examines the transformation from relative wilderness to a major town.
Kids will love searching for clues as to how old Sam is, and noticing all the changes that occur through the years.
I found the "Author's Note" to be preachy and unhelpful. "The facts are alarming. Scientists estimate that ... by 2020 no wilderness will remain ... By the same year, they estimate a quarter of our plant and animal species will be extinct." I don't want to niggle with these 'facts' but please provide your references so that I can learn more if I want to. Please point me to the UN Environment Program - they've even got a section for children! Raising awareness is important - and this book does this well... But this book leaves me feeling depressed and impotent - not inspired to take actions to reduce my impact on the environment.
Kids will love searching for clues as to how old Sam is, and noticing all the changes that occur through the years.
I found the "Author's Note" to be preachy and unhelpful. "The facts are alarming. Scientists estimate that ... by 2020 no wilderness will remain ... By the same year, they estimate a quarter of our plant and animal species will be extinct." I don't want to niggle with these 'facts' but please provide your references so that I can learn more if I want to. Please point me to the UN Environment Program - they've even got a section for children! Raising awareness is important - and this book does this well... But this book leaves me feeling depressed and impotent - not inspired to take actions to reduce my impact on the environment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews