A lonely boy finds his feet in a new city by watching his neighbours' lives unfold behind their lit windows .
Adjusting to life in a new city is tough. When a young boy moves from the countryside, everyone around him seems so unfriendly. Lonely and home- sick, he sits on a bench outside his new apartment block and watches the busy urban lives going on behind the lit windows. A writer struggles with writers block, a cook creates magnificent meals for herself, a young woman cultivates a luxuriant garden on her balcony and mum struggles to keep four kids under control. Night after night he watches his neighbours' lives unfold before him, observing the tiny details of each story, until one evening someone else is sitting on his bench. Gradually he begins to interact with the people around him, and decides to throw a big party to bring all the neighbours together....
This is a heartwarming tale about fitting in and making friends, illustrated in Aart Jan Venema's distinctive, intricate style. Packed with hilarious details, Night Windows is a beautiful book that will keep children young and old entertained for hours.
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My parents said, "Give the city a chance. At second glance you'll find that the heat And the beat of the streets Will have you up on your feet. Wait and see."
Aart Jan Venema is a Dutch illustrator whose editorial work has featured in The Guardian, the FT, Wall Street Journal, Green Man Festival, Science, ZEIT and many more. He is also the winner of the World Illustration Award, 2017. This is his first book....
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Toppsta Comment
If you're someone who likes to look across a city skyline and imagine the different lives taking place in each window scene then this is the book for you. It's a lovely story of challenging first assumptions and the gradual process of making friends when you settle somewhere new.