DENOS, Julia. Windows. illus. by E.B. Goodale. 32p. Candlewick. Oct. 2017. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780763690359.

PreS-Gr 1 –In this story, a boy of color dons a red hoodie, leashes his eager dog, and ventures out into the twilight, where the windows are “blinking awake as the lights turn on inside: a neighborhood of paper lanterns.” Readers get to peer in at the small, diverse figures making dinner, throwing a party, dancing, even stretching tin cans on a string between houses to talk on the “phone.” The brilliant colors of the changing sky connect to the illumination within—as if originating from the same source. Light and relationships envelop the journey in security and quiet joy: the child’s mother watches as her son leaves, waves to a friend on a skateboard, and plays with his dog in the park. Memorable language contributes to the mood, as a raccoon is observed “taking a bath in squares of yellow light.” The compositions are rendered in ink, watercolor, letterpress, and digital collage. Readers will want to revisit these pages of impressionistic trees, buildings that blur as they recede into the vanishing point, and captivating combinations of fully realized scenes with transparent objects outlined in delicate lines. The narrative ends with a quickening step toward the loved one waving behind the curtain—and a story shared in a snuggle. VERDICT This evocative portrait elevates an everyday routine to a wonder-filled walk of discovery. Perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.–Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

This review was published in the School Library Journal August 2017 issue.