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Window
In this wordless picture book, extraordinary things are happening behind the windows of the city.
A young girl is walking home from school in a big city. As she gazes up at window after window in the buildings on her route - each one a different shape and size - she imagines what might be going on behind them. By opening the gatefold, readers will get to see inside her imagination. An indoor jungle. A whale in a bathtub. Vampires playing badminton.
A young girl is walking home from school in a big city. As she gazes up at window after window in the buildings on her route - each one a different shape and size - she imagines what might be going on behind them. By opening the gatefold, readers will get to see inside her imagination. An indoor jungle. A whale in a bathtub. Vampires playing badminton.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2020
1 person is currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Marion Arbona
71 books6 followersMarion was born in France in the early eighties. After obtaining an animation film diploma from the Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs of Paris, she settles in Montreal, Canada. Thanks to good winter boots, she endures the cold weather and devotes herself to illustration and painting while occasionally working on animation film projects.
~From http://www.marionarbona.com/
~From http://www.marionarbona.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
April 27, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for another free ARC in return for my honest review.
A very interesting and fun picture book. But it is not a typical picture book. When I read this book I am reminded of the city of Chicago where you are told to "look up" and see all the amazing architecture. Here our little heroine dreams of what is behind windows, and she is always looking up to see the windows which lifts her spirits and allows her imagination to soar. Each page or 2 we have new windows, new imaginings and new fun. Let your mind and soul run wild. Kids nowadays seem to have little imagination and if they do it is sitting in front of a computer screen. Kids who read this book will have fun finding all the items behind each window and hopefully this will encourage them to "look up" and dream and imagine!
A very interesting and fun picture book. But it is not a typical picture book. When I read this book I am reminded of the city of Chicago where you are told to "look up" and see all the amazing architecture. Here our little heroine dreams of what is behind windows, and she is always looking up to see the windows which lifts her spirits and allows her imagination to soar. Each page or 2 we have new windows, new imaginings and new fun. Let your mind and soul run wild. Kids nowadays seem to have little imagination and if they do it is sitting in front of a computer screen. Kids who read this book will have fun finding all the items behind each window and hopefully this will encourage them to "look up" and dream and imagine!
March 27, 2020
As a girl walks home from school she wonders what’s taking place behind the windows she passes. Using details she can see as clues, she imagines scenes that include vampires, a deep sea diver, a jungle and a collection of masks.
This wordless picture book encourages the ‘reader’ to use their own imaginations to tell the story of what’s happening in each room. While there’s an overall theme to each room there are other stories taking place if you look closely, like a frog roasting a marshmallow.
I’ve also found Alice in Wonderland references in two illustrations (so far). I will definitely look again to see if I missed any the first time around.
I love the idea of children telling their parents the story of what’s happening behind each window.
Although adult me can appreciate black and white illustrations, kid me would have wanted the entire rainbow. I’m not sure if it’s my eyes or the illustrations, but I had trouble identifying some of the smaller elements in a few pictures.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
This wordless picture book encourages the ‘reader’ to use their own imaginations to tell the story of what’s happening in each room. While there’s an overall theme to each room there are other stories taking place if you look closely, like a frog roasting a marshmallow.
I’ve also found Alice in Wonderland references in two illustrations (so far). I will definitely look again to see if I missed any the first time around.
I love the idea of children telling their parents the story of what’s happening behind each window.
Although adult me can appreciate black and white illustrations, kid me would have wanted the entire rainbow. I’m not sure if it’s my eyes or the illustrations, but I had trouble identifying some of the smaller elements in a few pictures.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
April 6, 2020
This is a nice little wordless picture book that shows a little girl imagining what's going on behind all the windows she sees as she walks home.
The black-and-white illustrations are detailed and interesting, and tell a story fairly well without using any words at all. I read this as an e-book, however, and it definitely doesn't work as well as it probably does as a paper book. Each spread really needs to be viewed in its entirety, and it looks like there are flaps to lift to reveal the different scenes hiding behind each window. (There are just some features that e-books can't replicate.)
If you can find a paper copy of this, I'd recommend taking a look. As wordless picture books go, it's fairly strong, and kids will have fun seeing the imaginative scenes lurking behind each of the varied windows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing a digital ARC.
The black-and-white illustrations are detailed and interesting, and tell a story fairly well without using any words at all. I read this as an e-book, however, and it definitely doesn't work as well as it probably does as a paper book. Each spread really needs to be viewed in its entirety, and it looks like there are flaps to lift to reveal the different scenes hiding behind each window. (There are just some features that e-books can't replicate.)
If you can find a paper copy of this, I'd recommend taking a look. As wordless picture books go, it's fairly strong, and kids will have fun seeing the imaginative scenes lurking behind each of the varied windows.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing a digital ARC.
July 22, 2020
4.5 stars. Gorgeous, highly detailed monochrome illustrations of a girl’s imaginings of what might be behind the windows she passes on the way home from school.
April 16, 2020
The strength of this wordless black and white picture book is in the exquisite, intricate art. A young girl walks home from school and imagines what's going on in all the windows. It's interesting, creative and unique, and a great book for children who are not yet reading but want to read on their own and those who love art or imagination.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
April 13, 2020
A cute short wordless story of a girl walking home from school and sees windows of different shapes and sizes, and imagines what's behind all of these windows. The story is in black and white and each scene is very detailed and wonderfully full of details.
I read this as an e-book, and it definitely works best as a physical book, if you're buying it for a child, because that's the only to really appreciate the beautiful full spreads. I thank netgalley for the digital copy, and I'll definitely keep an eye on this artist in the future.
I read this as an e-book, and it definitely works best as a physical book, if you're buying it for a child, because that's the only to really appreciate the beautiful full spreads. I thank netgalley for the digital copy, and I'll definitely keep an eye on this artist in the future.
June 2, 2021
The little girl is awfully cheerful considering two of the scenes she imagines: there are a few words in those scenes, and both refer to eating children. Maybe she's a bloodthirsty little brat.
She does remind me a bit of Harriet the Spy, for whom I felt no sympathy.
And the art does remind me of Edward Gorey.
I suppose, in a way, the book is brilliant, but I did not like it, nor would I have as a child.
She does remind me a bit of Harriet the Spy, for whom I felt no sympathy.
And the art does remind me of Edward Gorey.
I suppose, in a way, the book is brilliant, but I did not like it, nor would I have as a child.
March 26, 2020
Wordless picture book in black and white. I like the art, and since it's wordless obviously this is a big deal. The book is happen a girl walking around in a city looking at windows and just imagine what could happen on the other side, in the room behind the window. Funny, imaginative, original and beautiful. The pdf format wasn't the best way to read it because of the way the page are frame but in a physical book I really thing the experience would be even better. Worth the time!
April 14, 2020
A young girl walks home from school and daydreams about what might be behind each window she passes. This story is very quirky and imaginative. It doesn't contain any words but the pictures tell the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy.
April 11, 2021
Wonderful wordless book that asks children to imagine who might be living behind all the windows along their street - art is fatastic - kind of Peter 'Maxish'.
March 31, 2020
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
This picture book just sounded too delightful to pass. I knew I had to try it out and see what the girl imagined. And oh boy, did she imagine!
Meet our tiny little heroine she has a very big imagination and as she walks from school to home she sees all sorts of magical events. She imagines what is behind each window that she encounters. From a window with dead flowers in front of it she sees a whole garden in the house, a shuttered window that must mean vampires and bats, and so on. Each window brought new delights and I was definitely looking forward to each window.
Plus, I am fairly sure the kid has the best time walking home. It can get a bit boring walking the same route everyday, but imagining these things makes it all better and more fun. Plus, you can keep imagining. One day the windows will be x, the next maybe y?
This girl encounters some very fun and lovely windows, this town is so diverse! I would have loved seeing so many diverse windows when I was a kid, I am sure I would have done some imagining myself then.
I loved how the girl also moved along with the pages. She starts at the left and ends up at the right.
It is just a shame that this is an ecopy as it broke up the pages in two parts. It just distracted a bit and took away from the magic. No I won't rate the book lower on that, I just feel that I need to say this as it was something that stood out for me. It distracted me.
The art was just amazing. I loved that it was black/white, but I loved it even more that there were so many details on each page. The intricate windows, and then the scenes behind them. Holy wow. This book definitely provides a long time of fun just checking all the details and seeing if you can find them all.
All in all, a magical and imaginative book I would recommend to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This picture book just sounded too delightful to pass. I knew I had to try it out and see what the girl imagined. And oh boy, did she imagine!
Meet our tiny little heroine she has a very big imagination and as she walks from school to home she sees all sorts of magical events. She imagines what is behind each window that she encounters. From a window with dead flowers in front of it she sees a whole garden in the house, a shuttered window that must mean vampires and bats, and so on. Each window brought new delights and I was definitely looking forward to each window.
Plus, I am fairly sure the kid has the best time walking home. It can get a bit boring walking the same route everyday, but imagining these things makes it all better and more fun. Plus, you can keep imagining. One day the windows will be x, the next maybe y?
This girl encounters some very fun and lovely windows, this town is so diverse! I would have loved seeing so many diverse windows when I was a kid, I am sure I would have done some imagining myself then.
I loved how the girl also moved along with the pages. She starts at the left and ends up at the right.
It is just a shame that this is an ecopy as it broke up the pages in two parts. It just distracted a bit and took away from the magic. No I won't rate the book lower on that, I just feel that I need to say this as it was something that stood out for me. It distracted me.
The art was just amazing. I loved that it was black/white, but I loved it even more that there were so many details on each page. The intricate windows, and then the scenes behind them. Holy wow. This book definitely provides a long time of fun just checking all the details and seeing if you can find them all.
All in all, a magical and imaginative book I would recommend to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 14, 2022
Window is a book without words allowing pictures to tell the story.
The cover is clever as it really does have a window for us to look through!
Window gives us a glimpse into a little girl’s imagination. Window opens with readers looking through a window at a little girl sitting at her desk in her classroom staring out the classroom window. The little girl takes readers on many adventures on her way home from school.
What’s interesting about Window is each new journey comes with our entering a new differently shape window. Our last adventure takes us through the window where we enter the little girl’s bedroom which I liked very much.
Window was very well done in black and white and the layout was absolutely creative. The artwork is superb.
Window gives us a glimpse of what our minds looked like when we were children.
The story was not quiet but was very loud. Readers who have vivid imaginations will enjoy and appreciate Window.
I might warn those who suffer visual sensory overload might not enjoy Window so much.
The cover is clever as it really does have a window for us to look through!
Window gives us a glimpse into a little girl’s imagination. Window opens with readers looking through a window at a little girl sitting at her desk in her classroom staring out the classroom window. The little girl takes readers on many adventures on her way home from school.
What’s interesting about Window is each new journey comes with our entering a new differently shape window. Our last adventure takes us through the window where we enter the little girl’s bedroom which I liked very much.
Window was very well done in black and white and the layout was absolutely creative. The artwork is superb.
Window gives us a glimpse of what our minds looked like when we were children.
The story was not quiet but was very loud. Readers who have vivid imaginations will enjoy and appreciate Window.
I might warn those who suffer visual sensory overload might not enjoy Window so much.
March 27, 2020
Of course I’m a bit too old to fully appreciate this type of books but I couldn’t resist smiling as the illustrations were so cute.
If you didn’t know this is a wordless black and white book. The fact that it was wordless gave something more to the story; the possibilities. Children are going to love giving all this scenes the words they deserve! I recommend checking this one out if you have children!
If you didn’t know this is a wordless black and white book. The fact that it was wordless gave something more to the story; the possibilities. Children are going to love giving all this scenes the words they deserve! I recommend checking this one out if you have children!
December 22, 2020
The conceptual offspring of the curious union of Chris van Allsburg and Edward Gorey, the book is filled with many hours' worth of details to discover behind the gatefold pages of a series of windows, as imagined by a young girl out for a walk. Terrific fun. Black and white felt-tip pen illustrations by the author.
June 29, 2020
Kids will love finding out what imaginative story is behind every window in this inventive picture book! No words-- just pictures. And a lot of imagination.
July 5, 2020
It was a wonderful read. I like such innocent tales. Girl watches windows on her way back home and then imagines what may be happening behind them.
Artwork is we excellent. A very good read for comics and graphic novel lovers .
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for review copy.
Artwork is we excellent. A very good read for comics and graphic novel lovers .
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for review copy.
November 10, 2020
Cool gimmick. Wonderful art
May 26, 2021
What fun! Complicated, intriguing illustrations you want to look at for a long time.
October 9, 2020
I always make a prediction what is behind that window. But, the true answer really surprises me!
May 19, 2020
Love love love this book! How do I go about getting a copy to kid me in the '70s? She would've loved this so much! The illustrations are so full of whimsical delight, they're sure to keep anyone entertained for hours. A little girl is walking home, looking at the windows up high on the building along the street as she goes by. She imagines what is happening behind each window, and we get to see the elaborate scenarios she comes up with. There's so much detail going on, the reader can continue to imagine the story for themselves. Some rooms have a bit of cheeky menace, like the witch sitting in her chair reading a book about how to cook children, while her victim is escaping, while others have more fun things happening, like small cars racing around, driven by tiny animals. The room of the mask collector is my favorite, I think. The last window is the little girl's bedroom, where we find out her name is Martha, and we see some very familiar things strewn about. A good book for all ages!
#NetGalley
#NetGalley
October 14, 2019
I enjoyed looking through this more than I usually enjoy wordless picture books. I have to admit, the illustrations kept reminding me of another illustrator- but have yet to think of who they remind me of. I looked through Arbona's other illustration credits but haven't read any of those, so not sure where I've encountered a similar style. Either way- it's enjoyable for a wordless book. I read a digital ARC, so didn't get to see the windows at work. From the description, it sounds like there are flaps lifted to see inside, which means kids will love it for that feature alone.
The illustrations are pretty magical- hopefully I'll come across the book in print and get to see how the book works. My daughter is likely a bit too old for it, but, if she was 5 or so where those books with flaps were still a huge deal for her, I would consider adding this one.
The illustrations are pretty magical- hopefully I'll come across the book in print and get to see how the book works. My daughter is likely a bit too old for it, but, if she was 5 or so where those books with flaps were still a huge deal for her, I would consider adding this one.
April 21, 2020
Wordless Picture Book
I received an electronic copy from Kids Can Press through NetGalley.
The story begins with a young girl looking out the window during class; she's obviously daydreaming rather than listening. When school is dismissed, she races out of the building and readers join her on her walk home. She glances at windows and imagines who/what is behind each. Love how Arbona shows her journey by showing her farther across the page in between each window image.
The black and white illustrations work well as readers explore her imagination and are able to further the stories in their heads.
I received an electronic copy from Kids Can Press through NetGalley.
The story begins with a young girl looking out the window during class; she's obviously daydreaming rather than listening. When school is dismissed, she races out of the building and readers join her on her walk home. She glances at windows and imagines who/what is behind each. Love how Arbona shows her journey by showing her farther across the page in between each window image.
The black and white illustrations work well as readers explore her imagination and are able to further the stories in their heads.
October 30, 2020
A little girl imagines what is behind all the interesting windows she sees on her way home from school. And what wild and exotic things she imagines.
With fold-out pages.
With fold-out pages.
October 26, 2022
I just picked this up when I happened across it at the library because it looked fun. I liked the cutout window of the cover. I didn't even open it until after I took it home. I like that there's a cat and a small UFO in the front cover illustration, among several other things.
What a neat book! Almost no text. And the foldout pages were a fun surprise!
A young girl gets out of school and while walking home imagines what could be going on behind the windows she passes. They're fantastical and luscious imaginings.
On the initial city street I liked that there was a little UFO again, the man in the window in the middle of shaving off his beard, and the 2 spooky shadow creatures on the right side.
What a neat book! Almost no text. And the foldout pages were a fun surprise!
A young girl gets out of school and while walking home imagines what could be going on behind the windows she passes. They're fantastical and luscious imaginings.
On the initial city street I liked that there was a little UFO again, the man in the window in the middle of shaving off his beard, and the 2 spooky shadow creatures on the right side.
November 13, 2022
There was no way for me to be prepared for what I found within the pages of this book. So unprepared was I that I found myself laughing out loud at the strangeness of this book’s nature. In these moments of humour, I found myself with the comforting sentiment that young children will love this, as much as I did in adulthood.
There are no words within this picture book which makes it the ultimate story for those who may not be able to read aloud, those for whom words carry no weight, those for whom words are an unknown, or simply for those like myself who enjoy the strangeness of art. The beauty of this book is that it can be consumed by anyone for there are no linguistic barriers in imagery; everything can be just as much itself as it can be whatever you wish it to be.
I think that young readers will find an abundance to enjoy & appreciate within this book. I believe it will remain a story that bridges the transition between our introduction to books through our journey into literature. As the young character walks home from school, she passes the windows that reflect the soul of the house & all the people, things, & creatures within.
I am so glad to have gotten the opportunity to read this & I am so happy to be gifted the knowledge that readers will be able to have their first experience wandering through these deliciously detailed pages, as I have today.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Kids Can Press, & Marion Arbona for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
There are no words within this picture book which makes it the ultimate story for those who may not be able to read aloud, those for whom words carry no weight, those for whom words are an unknown, or simply for those like myself who enjoy the strangeness of art. The beauty of this book is that it can be consumed by anyone for there are no linguistic barriers in imagery; everything can be just as much itself as it can be whatever you wish it to be.
I think that young readers will find an abundance to enjoy & appreciate within this book. I believe it will remain a story that bridges the transition between our introduction to books through our journey into literature. As the young character walks home from school, she passes the windows that reflect the soul of the house & all the people, things, & creatures within.
I am so glad to have gotten the opportunity to read this & I am so happy to be gifted the knowledge that readers will be able to have their first experience wandering through these deliciously detailed pages, as I have today.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Kids Can Press, & Marion Arbona for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 26, 2020
Oh, these kinds of books are so much fun because they elicit so much imagination in the reader! It's a wordless book showing a young girl walking home from school. Along the way, she looks up at the different windows that she passes and imagines what may be going on inside.
The first time you read this with kids, as them to imagine what is in that window before they turn the page to see what the girl is thinking. Let them stretch their imagination wings first. And maybe they will be inspired to create their own drawings of what's behind each window, or even create their own windows. You could also go on a hunt around the neighborhood to see what kinds of windows you can find and what may be happening behind them. So much open-ended fun with a book like this!
Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The first time you read this with kids, as them to imagine what is in that window before they turn the page to see what the girl is thinking. Let them stretch their imagination wings first. And maybe they will be inspired to create their own drawings of what's behind each window, or even create their own windows. You could also go on a hunt around the neighborhood to see what kinds of windows you can find and what may be happening behind them. So much open-ended fun with a book like this!
Thank you to the publisher for fulfilling my review request via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 13, 2020
A girl leaves school, and on her walk home imagines what might be behind all the windows she sees on the street. That's it for plot. As far as presentation goes, we get Martha – the girl, the next window, and then a large double-page spread to show what is behind each frame, whether it be some animals enjoying their library, a certain animal on a toadstool with a certain bad habit that Lewis Carroll first told us about, or a family of vampires waking up. The design is strong, the dioramas in the rooms are lovely to look at and inventive (if a little fixated on killing children), but I don't think for all the effort (and the twenty felt-tip pens the creation of this put paid to) it will be one to turn to more than once.
May 3, 2022
This review is being used for class ELED 460.
Window is a 2020 book written and illustrated by Marion Arbona. The book was published by Kids Can Press and has 32 pages. The book falls within the fiction or realistic fiction genre.
Window is a book in all black and white- showing a girl imagining the worlds behind different windows! This book sort of reminded me of Wallpaper by Thao Lam, just in the sense of living through a bunch of different worlds- in a way. This book is so beautifully illustrated, and I think is one of my favorite books I have interacted with so far!
Window is a 2020 book written and illustrated by Marion Arbona. The book was published by Kids Can Press and has 32 pages. The book falls within the fiction or realistic fiction genre.
Window is a book in all black and white- showing a girl imagining the worlds behind different windows! This book sort of reminded me of Wallpaper by Thao Lam, just in the sense of living through a bunch of different worlds- in a way. This book is so beautifully illustrated, and I think is one of my favorite books I have interacted with so far!
March 26, 2020
I love Marion Arbona's illustration style, and this newly released picture book is no exception! Window is a wordless story of a girl who imagines what is behind all the windows that she passes each day. Every scene is packed full of whimsical imaginary settings, from a Gnome lifting contest to Bears reading books. My daughter and I had a lot of fun coming up with background stories for each scene. Highly recommended!
April 25, 2020
As a child (even as a grown up woman) I would always tried to peep into other people's lives through their windows or doors (sounds creepy now).
I always tried to imagine how these people lived ,their likes and dislikes,their routine,their valuables etc .
This story is about a little girl like me who tries to imagine what is behind athe windows.And her imagination is depicted in thorough illustrations.
Really enjoyed these little adventures of a creative mind.
I always tried to imagine how these people lived ,their likes and dislikes,their routine,their valuables etc .
This story is about a little girl like me who tries to imagine what is behind athe windows.And her imagination is depicted in thorough illustrations.
Really enjoyed these little adventures of a creative mind.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews