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Waiting
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2015)Caldecott Honor and Geisel Honor Book
What are you waiting for? An owl, a puppy, a bear, a rabbit, and a pig—all toys arranged on a child’s windowsill—wait for marvelous things to happen in this irresistible picture book by the New York Times–bestselling and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes.
Five friends sit happily on a windowsill, waiting for something amazing to happen. The owl is waiting for the moon. The pig is waiting for the rain. The bear is waiting for the wind. The puppy is waiting for the snow. And the rabbit is just looking out the window because he likes to wait! What will happen? Will patience win in the end? Or someday will the friends stop waiting and do something unexpected?
Waiting is a big part of childhood—waiting in line, waiting to grow up, waiting for something special to happen—but in this book, a child sets the stage and pulls the strings. Timeless, beautiful, and deeply heartfelt, this picture book about imaginative play, the seasons, friendship, and surprises marks a new pinnacle in Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes’s extraordinary career.
“The short sentences of the text flow with the precision one would expect from a master picture-book creator like Henkes. Little ones, to whom each experience is new, will know what it’s like to dream and wait.”—ALA Booklist
What are you waiting for? An owl, a puppy, a bear, a rabbit, and a pig—all toys arranged on a child’s windowsill—wait for marvelous things to happen in this irresistible picture book by the New York Times–bestselling and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes.
Five friends sit happily on a windowsill, waiting for something amazing to happen. The owl is waiting for the moon. The pig is waiting for the rain. The bear is waiting for the wind. The puppy is waiting for the snow. And the rabbit is just looking out the window because he likes to wait! What will happen? Will patience win in the end? Or someday will the friends stop waiting and do something unexpected?
Waiting is a big part of childhood—waiting in line, waiting to grow up, waiting for something special to happen—but in this book, a child sets the stage and pulls the strings. Timeless, beautiful, and deeply heartfelt, this picture book about imaginative play, the seasons, friendship, and surprises marks a new pinnacle in Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes’s extraordinary career.
“The short sentences of the text flow with the precision one would expect from a master picture-book creator like Henkes. Little ones, to whom each experience is new, will know what it’s like to dream and wait.”—ALA Booklist
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
54 people are currently reading
3774 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Henkes
143 books1,200 followersKevin Henkes is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. As an illustrator he won the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon (2004). Two of his books were Newbery Medal Honor Books, Olive's Ocean in 2004 and The Year of Billy Miller in 2014. His picture book Waiting was named both a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book. It was only the second time any author has won that combination of awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,053 reviews
September 6, 2015
Me: (hands this book to Sam after reading it in Barnes & Noble) Want some typically existential Henkes?
Sam: (after reading it) I have no idea what I just read.
Me: What the Henk, right?
Sam: I don't even know what to say about that.
Me: It's like... gorgeous and melancholy, and what even the hell.
Sam: Do you think Kevin Henkes just sits in an empty house, gazing out the window, and occasionally jotting down a few words in an old notebook?
Me: I picture him lovingly arranging a single slice of bread, a pat of butter, and an apple on a chipped porcelain plate, and then sitting down to his solitary lunch... but wait. What if he actually spends all of his time playing Call of Duty and screaming at the tv?!
Sam: Yeah! What if he's secretly best friends with Snooki?
Sam: (after reading it) I have no idea what I just read.
Me: What the Henk, right?
Sam: I don't even know what to say about that.
Me: It's like... gorgeous and melancholy, and what even the hell.
Sam: Do you think Kevin Henkes just sits in an empty house, gazing out the window, and occasionally jotting down a few words in an old notebook?
Me: I picture him lovingly arranging a single slice of bread, a pat of butter, and an apple on a chipped porcelain plate, and then sitting down to his solitary lunch... but wait. What if he actually spends all of his time playing Call of Duty and screaming at the tv?!
Sam: Yeah! What if he's secretly best friends with Snooki?
April 3, 2019
It’s an interesting idea to tell a book from the perspective of a window. I like the idea, but I didn’t relate to the characters of these toys who are waiting. Waiting for rain or snow or wind etc. I didn’t appreciate this artwork. It does not work for me. I suspect this is about learning to wait, but I don’t think it really gets that idea across. It is a slow story and it did not work for me in many ways. This is a beginning story and I don’t know that it works for kids above that beginning stage. My kids were above this story.
The children were lukewarm on this. The nephew loved the pig with the umbrella. He liked the dog on the sled, but he said the story was Bor-Ring. He gave this 2 stars and asked to never read this book again. The niece didn’t enjoy this either. She thought there were some cute characters, but the story was bad. She gave this 1 star.
This book did not work for our family.
The children were lukewarm on this. The nephew loved the pig with the umbrella. He liked the dog on the sled, but he said the story was Bor-Ring. He gave this 2 stars and asked to never read this book again. The niece didn’t enjoy this either. She thought there were some cute characters, but the story was bad. She gave this 1 star.
This book did not work for our family.
January 23, 2019
Some toys wait on a windowsill, one waits for the moon, one for the wind, one for the rain, and one for the snow. Sometimes one went away but always came back. The story says 'once a visitor arrived from far away. He stayed a while, then he left and never returned.' This refers to a China elephant that falls off the shelf and smashes, nobody is sad he has gone and I wonder if the picture implies the rabbit pushed the elephant off the shelf. Then the story says how the toys on the shelf see the different seasons before a Russian doll type cat arrives and then they wait together to see what happens next.
The illustrations were nice enough but nothing really happens apart from the poor elephant ornament being smashed and nobody seeming to care. I'm not sure what the point of this book is, I was waiting but never discovered what it was.
The illustrations were nice enough but nothing really happens apart from the poor elephant ornament being smashed and nobody seeming to care. I'm not sure what the point of this book is, I was waiting but never discovered what it was.
July 22, 2021
There are five toys in the window and they are all waiting for something. The owl was waiting for moon, pig with umbrella was waiting for rain, bear with the kite was waiting for wind, puppy on the sled was waiting for snow and the rabbit with stars wasn't exactly waiting for anything in particular. They are sometimes joined by other toys/guests and finally they are joined by five cats and they live happily ever after.
Five toys on the window ledge and their perspective. It was an interesting concept I'd give it that (in the beginning I thought it was like the movie, Toy Story) but the story just doesn't work. As the title waiting suggests that this book is about teaching kids about waiting, the message feels muddled. Also what was the point of the toy elephant smashing into pieces? I liked the art with soothing colors, done with pastels and crayons but nothing else worked for me.
2 stars
Five toys on the window ledge and their perspective. It was an interesting concept I'd give it that (in the beginning I thought it was like the movie, Toy Story) but the story just doesn't work. As the title waiting suggests that this book is about teaching kids about waiting, the message feels muddled. Also what was the point of the toy elephant smashing into pieces? I liked the art with soothing colors, done with pastels and crayons but nothing else worked for me.
2 stars
September 28, 2025
نقاشیهاش لطیف بود؛ ولی خود انتقال پیامش رو دوست نداشتم. در اصل میخواست بگه از اتفاقهای کوچک هم خوش باشید ولی انفعال و هیچ کاری نکردن و کاری از دستت برنیومدن رو خیلی بولدتر نشون میداد. حتی میشه گفت ناامید کنندهتر بود.
مهر ۱۴۰۴
مهر ۱۴۰۴
May 23, 2022
While Kevin Henkes' Waiting is indeed a generally sweet and tender little interlude depicting the meditative, anticipative behaviours of a group of diverse toys on some eponymous windowsill, personally, neither text nor the accompanying illustrations have all that much enchanted me. For while there definitely is a relaxingly soft quality to Waiting, there is also nothing much else present in any manner, not really any major philosophical concepts for either discussion or debate (and I have personally also not found author and illustrator Kevin Henkes' pictorial images all that riveting or even enjoyable, the Caldecott Honour designation for Waiting notwithstanding, with especially the rather minute sizes of the group of toys and washed-out colour schemes used not being entirely to my aesthetic liking).
And yes, and also, that in one of the scenes of Waiting, a toy elephant (which is described as an interloper or a traveler of some kind) is simply described as not staying, as not remaining on the windowsill because it ends up broken and in a million pieces at the bottom of the same, that does kind of personally bother me more than a bit because Kevin Henkes seems to just consider this an acceptable and perhaps even necessary fact of life in some way. So therefore, I have not really been all that impressed with and by Waiting and would also NOT likely have ever even read it, had we not been discussing Caldecott Honour picture books in the Children's Literature Group on Goodreads (and while I certainly have not in any manner despised Waiting, it has also not really managed to much enchant me, it has really not hit any proverbial sweet spots).
And yes, and also, that in one of the scenes of Waiting, a toy elephant (which is described as an interloper or a traveler of some kind) is simply described as not staying, as not remaining on the windowsill because it ends up broken and in a million pieces at the bottom of the same, that does kind of personally bother me more than a bit because Kevin Henkes seems to just consider this an acceptable and perhaps even necessary fact of life in some way. So therefore, I have not really been all that impressed with and by Waiting and would also NOT likely have ever even read it, had we not been discussing Caldecott Honour picture books in the Children's Literature Group on Goodreads (and while I certainly have not in any manner despised Waiting, it has also not really managed to much enchant me, it has really not hit any proverbial sweet spots).
September 21, 2015
Picked up Kevin Henkes' newest in my favorite children's bookstore for the beautiful illustration. After finishing I was unsure what to think. Let me be clear, I think the pictures are great. I love the repetitive use of the window; the visual smallness and simplicity of their world. But as far as the story goes, I wanted more. Seeing the book preemptively canonized as a classic is really weirding me out. What am I missing? Can anyone out there try to explain this one to me?
I would argue, and hear me out now, that this book isn't really about the experience of waiting. There are events that the toys wait for and then they happen. Very little waiting seems to happen between the expression of each toy's desire and the forthcoming event. As a child, even the briefest of delay can feel like an eternity. The feelings that can come with waiting-- idle frustration, desperate exasperation, the feeling of victory in the arrival of the awaited moment, or even the possible realization that the thing awaited will not come to pass--none of this is to be found in the story. This is most likely because our characters are toys, and inanimate, emotionally distant ones at that.
There are many great stories that feature the secret lives of toys. When you compare those to Waiting, it just doesn't measure up. I know it is completely unfair to compare this with Velveteen Rabbit or the Toy Story series or Edward Tulane or Pooh, but still...! Like a great number of children, of course I imagined that my toys were alive. But they lead active lives with individual adventures in a universe of their own. They would not have sat, half-dead on a window sill year after year.
I believe that there are far better picture books about waiting. The Carrot Seed is a great example (although it is arguably about more than just waiting). I want some conflict, some action, some suspense, an ending that doesn't feel so random and unconnected. It can still be quiet. I love quiet stories, but apparently not ones that pass as swiftly and calmly as this one. Somebody, please tell me the deeper meaning here!
I would argue, and hear me out now, that this book isn't really about the experience of waiting. There are events that the toys wait for and then they happen. Very little waiting seems to happen between the expression of each toy's desire and the forthcoming event. As a child, even the briefest of delay can feel like an eternity. The feelings that can come with waiting-- idle frustration, desperate exasperation, the feeling of victory in the arrival of the awaited moment, or even the possible realization that the thing awaited will not come to pass--none of this is to be found in the story. This is most likely because our characters are toys, and inanimate, emotionally distant ones at that.
There are many great stories that feature the secret lives of toys. When you compare those to Waiting, it just doesn't measure up. I know it is completely unfair to compare this with Velveteen Rabbit or the Toy Story series or Edward Tulane or Pooh, but still...! Like a great number of children, of course I imagined that my toys were alive. But they lead active lives with individual adventures in a universe of their own. They would not have sat, half-dead on a window sill year after year.
I believe that there are far better picture books about waiting. The Carrot Seed is a great example (although it is arguably about more than just waiting). I want some conflict, some action, some suspense, an ending that doesn't feel so random and unconnected. It can still be quiet. I love quiet stories, but apparently not ones that pass as swiftly and calmly as this one. Somebody, please tell me the deeper meaning here!
January 23, 2019
I dunno. Waiting, to me, always implies anticipating, which connotes exercising patience. But these characters are happy even when that which they wait for isn't happening. They're more meditative. Maybe we don't have a good word in English for it... certainly we hustle & bustle Americans don't have a strong concept for laid-back chilling. But we should, and Henkes knows that.
And after some time, I'm thinking about this book again, and giving it another star.
And after some time, I'm thinking about this book again, and giving it another star.
September 13, 2015
A new picture book release by Kevin Henkes is reason for celebration. Soft and gentle, Waiting feels like a loved one just gave you a warm glass of milk and tucked you in you bed while humming a sweet tune. A comforting and hopeful read.
November 13, 2015
The whole family is reading all these Goodreads Children's Illustrated book nominees for 2015 and rating all of them. This is #18 of 20 for us.
Waiting is the work of a master picture book artist and storyteller Henkes. He gets little kids and he sweetly and tenderly and not mawkishly or sappily reaches them. Parents and little kids alike love this guy's work, and we are fans in this family.
That said, I did not find the story all that compelling. 5 stuffed animal friends wait on a windowsill. We lose one, we gain one. The ending is sort of not what we hoped, but as Lyra (8) says, "it's the art, Dad," and I agree. The art is terrific, one of the very best of the year, and that is saying a lot, because there is some great art in these picture book semi-finalists. And this is one of the five best, in our opinion.
Dave 4 stars (4.5 art; 3 story)
Tara 4 stars
Harry (10) 4.5 stars
Henry (9) 3.5 (who likes Otter in Space and bolder, funnier vs. sweet and gentle ones)
Lyra (8) 4 (It was Lyra who talked with me about 4.5 for art, 3.5 for story)
But this is a story for much younger kids than any of us, so consider the source.
Waiting is the work of a master picture book artist and storyteller Henkes. He gets little kids and he sweetly and tenderly and not mawkishly or sappily reaches them. Parents and little kids alike love this guy's work, and we are fans in this family.
That said, I did not find the story all that compelling. 5 stuffed animal friends wait on a windowsill. We lose one, we gain one. The ending is sort of not what we hoped, but as Lyra (8) says, "it's the art, Dad," and I agree. The art is terrific, one of the very best of the year, and that is saying a lot, because there is some great art in these picture book semi-finalists. And this is one of the five best, in our opinion.
Dave 4 stars (4.5 art; 3 story)
Tara 4 stars
Harry (10) 4.5 stars
Henry (9) 3.5 (who likes Otter in Space and bolder, funnier vs. sweet and gentle ones)
Lyra (8) 4 (It was Lyra who talked with me about 4.5 for art, 3.5 for story)
But this is a story for much younger kids than any of us, so consider the source.
April 17, 2015
Gentle, beautiful, and deceptively simple. I'm so happy to see a book take the idea of waiting, which can be such agony for small children, and show so lovingly that it holds its own pleasures.
September 5, 2015
I'll admit I bought this book solely because of the author. It's Kevin Henkes, an author who, in my eyes, rates right up there besides picture book writers Cynthia Rylant, Mem Fox, Eve Bunting, Leo Lionni and Eric Carle for their simplicity, yet beautiful language and rhythm.
Waiting is a quiet, peaceful book about five toy friends who sit on the windowsill of a child's home waiting for their turn at play. There is bear who waits with his kite for the wind, puppy who waits on his sled for the snow, owl who waits for the moon, pig with his umbrella who waits for the rain and rabbit who isn't raining for anything in particular, she just waits. Lastly, they are joined one day by a cat, and somehow five plus one become ten, and it's clear that this is what they all were really waiting for.
I have to add something about reading this book to young children. At a conference that I attended this summer, I heard children's author, academic book writer, and all-around child advocate, Lester Laminack, talk about reading aloud to students, and these words struck me. "We need to read aloud with no intention but to cause students to fall in love with the sound of words." This is a book that will do that. Please, teachers. Just read Waiting through to your students from start to finish with no interruption. Let them delight in the sounds of the words and let their minds imagine what these friends are waiting for without interruption and questions and instructions such as, "Hmmmm, what do you think the friends are waiting for? Turn and talk to your partner." As Lester said, "trust the author to do his or her job," because Kevin Henkes has done his wonderfully.
Waiting is a quiet, peaceful book about five toy friends who sit on the windowsill of a child's home waiting for their turn at play. There is bear who waits with his kite for the wind, puppy who waits on his sled for the snow, owl who waits for the moon, pig with his umbrella who waits for the rain and rabbit who isn't raining for anything in particular, she just waits. Lastly, they are joined one day by a cat, and somehow five plus one become ten, and it's clear that this is what they all were really waiting for.
I have to add something about reading this book to young children. At a conference that I attended this summer, I heard children's author, academic book writer, and all-around child advocate, Lester Laminack, talk about reading aloud to students, and these words struck me. "We need to read aloud with no intention but to cause students to fall in love with the sound of words." This is a book that will do that. Please, teachers. Just read Waiting through to your students from start to finish with no interruption. Let them delight in the sounds of the words and let their minds imagine what these friends are waiting for without interruption and questions and instructions such as, "Hmmmm, what do you think the friends are waiting for? Turn and talk to your partner." As Lester said, "trust the author to do his or her job," because Kevin Henkes has done his wonderfully.
November 28, 2017
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this. (I start a lot of reviews that way, but whatever.)
Charming! Just charming! Everything from the pictures to the story is an absolute delight. Tender and lovely, and appealing to kids and adults of all ages!
Charming! Just charming! Everything from the pictures to the story is an absolute delight. Tender and lovely, and appealing to kids and adults of all ages!
February 18, 2017
Such a quite, heartwarming and unexpectedly deep picturebook!
This is my favorite spread:
Simply brilliant!
This is my favorite spread:
Simply brilliant!
April 9, 2018
Caldecott Honor 2016
I loved this one. Very sweet with soft, gentle illustrations. The story is one that I could read again and again. It feels like a classic that has been around for generations.
I loved this one. Very sweet with soft, gentle illustrations. The story is one that I could read again and again. It feels like a classic that has been around for generations.
September 28, 2024
هر کسی توی این زندگی منتظر یه چیزی هستش .
September 29, 2015
The award-winning Kevin Henkes returns with a new picture book about waiting. Five toys wait on a windowsill, looking outside. The owl waits for the moon, the pig waits for rain, the bear waits for wind, the dog waits for snow and the rabbit waits because he enjoys waiting and watching out the window. Seeing what they are waiting for makes each of them happy and so do new objects and visitors. Some visitors stay for only a short time while others stay longer. They all wait together. When a cat joins them, she too is waiting but for something very specific and it will be a wonderful surprise for everyone when it comes.
This is such a quiet and marvelous book. Do not read it expecting action and adventure, rather this is a book about waiting and patience. It is a book that shows the beauty of just being, of mindfulness, of acceptance of your day. Yet it is also a book about the tug of wanting and wishing, about time passing and about being friends in the most quiet and yet deep way. There is a silence about the book too that is compelling and superbly done. This is a philosophical book, one that quietly sneaks up on the reader how deep it actually is.
Henkes' illustrations are done in a limited color palette. They have a quiet tone all their own in their pastels. The objects themselves have an old-fashioned feel, one of timelessness which is quite appropriate here. There are sections of the book done just in pictures, which allow the reader to see the relationships between the characters as well as the patience it takes to wait.
A gem of a picture book, this one is difficult to explain well but such a great read. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
This is such a quiet and marvelous book. Do not read it expecting action and adventure, rather this is a book about waiting and patience. It is a book that shows the beauty of just being, of mindfulness, of acceptance of your day. Yet it is also a book about the tug of wanting and wishing, about time passing and about being friends in the most quiet and yet deep way. There is a silence about the book too that is compelling and superbly done. This is a philosophical book, one that quietly sneaks up on the reader how deep it actually is.
Henkes' illustrations are done in a limited color palette. They have a quiet tone all their own in their pastels. The objects themselves have an old-fashioned feel, one of timelessness which is quite appropriate here. There are sections of the book done just in pictures, which allow the reader to see the relationships between the characters as well as the patience it takes to wait.
A gem of a picture book, this one is difficult to explain well but such a great read. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
November 12, 2015
The pictures in this book made me smile. And I laughed when the cat was introduced and we found out what she was waiting for. Soft and gentle, this book is one about the things we wait for, and our attitudes while we wait. I think my favorite character was the bunny who just liked waiting to see what would happen next, regardless of what we are waiting for.
June 18, 2022
Sweet picture book that lets us share the passage of time with new friends.
December 31, 2020
It's hard to wrap my mind around all this book means. A 2016 Randolph Caldecott Honor selection, Waiting had to be designated for that citation on more than just the basis of its lovely pastel pictures, attractive as they are. There's more depth to the story than the majority of Caldecott recipients, an underlying feeling that the entirety of the human experience is somehow contained in the quiet waiting of the five animal figurines, each looking forward to a different exciting event. Kevin Henkes has always cast illumination on such scenarios with sublime respect for his young readers, in picture books as well as his novels, and Waiting is one of his more emotionally significant offerings, imbued with a poignant sense of not-there-yet that everyone can identify with to some extent. I'm glad I spent a little time with these five animal figurines beside their window to the awesome, ever-changing world. It gave me fresh perspective on the living that takes place both inside and outside the windows that sequester us all.
The owl, the pig with her umbrella, the bear and his kite, and the dog on a sled wait by the window, each in expectation of their own favorite occurrence. Only the accordion rabbit waits without specific purpose, gazing out the window simply because he likes waiting. The animals are pleased each in turn when the event they're waiting for comes to pass—some happening more often than others—but when it's over they return to waiting for the next fulfillment of their expectation.
Surprises break up the routine occasionally, new figurines coming to their world on the windowsill, making a brief impression in their little community before moving on. But through every event mundane and extraordinary—the routine passing of seasons and visits by exotic animals who brighten their days momentarily, the sudden, sad departure of those special animals and the coming of a new member to their group, a roundish cat covered in patches of color who has something to teach the others regarding the blessedness of life—the five figurines settle in and wait. Perhaps passing time between anticipated events is the quintessence of life, the excitement of awaiting big days while learning to savor the contentment of the in-between, the weeks, months, and sometimes years spent seated beside friends and family on the windowsill with only each other and an expectation of tomorrow for company. If the joy of life is hidden like flakes of gold in the steady stream of waiting, then it's up to us to pan the gold from the sludge, to understand that life doesn't last forever and we can't afford to leave any of our precious time unsifted. In our waiting we find the most satisfying rewards of a life well spent.
Kevin Henkes is a fine writer and equally adept illustrator, evidenced by his slew of Newbery and Caldecott recognitions. Waiting expresses big ideas in ingeniously simple form, ideas so big no one can fully comprehend them, yet kids who read the book will have a good early grasp on these concepts without even knowing it. I can easily see why Waiting won a Caldecott Honor. For readers seeking a subtle equilibrium of substance and beauty, look no further than this book.
The owl, the pig with her umbrella, the bear and his kite, and the dog on a sled wait by the window, each in expectation of their own favorite occurrence. Only the accordion rabbit waits without specific purpose, gazing out the window simply because he likes waiting. The animals are pleased each in turn when the event they're waiting for comes to pass—some happening more often than others—but when it's over they return to waiting for the next fulfillment of their expectation.
Surprises break up the routine occasionally, new figurines coming to their world on the windowsill, making a brief impression in their little community before moving on. But through every event mundane and extraordinary—the routine passing of seasons and visits by exotic animals who brighten their days momentarily, the sudden, sad departure of those special animals and the coming of a new member to their group, a roundish cat covered in patches of color who has something to teach the others regarding the blessedness of life—the five figurines settle in and wait. Perhaps passing time between anticipated events is the quintessence of life, the excitement of awaiting big days while learning to savor the contentment of the in-between, the weeks, months, and sometimes years spent seated beside friends and family on the windowsill with only each other and an expectation of tomorrow for company. If the joy of life is hidden like flakes of gold in the steady stream of waiting, then it's up to us to pan the gold from the sludge, to understand that life doesn't last forever and we can't afford to leave any of our precious time unsifted. In our waiting we find the most satisfying rewards of a life well spent.
Kevin Henkes is a fine writer and equally adept illustrator, evidenced by his slew of Newbery and Caldecott recognitions. Waiting expresses big ideas in ingeniously simple form, ideas so big no one can fully comprehend them, yet kids who read the book will have a good early grasp on these concepts without even knowing it. I can easily see why Waiting won a Caldecott Honor. For readers seeking a subtle equilibrium of substance and beauty, look no further than this book.
January 23, 2016
It isn't hard to see why this picture book garnered both Caldecott Honor and Seuss Honor recognition for its creator. Not only does it encourage multiple readings, but it captures an experience that is an essential part of life, especially when one is young. Youngsters grow accustomed to having to wait their turn, wait in line, and wait on the grownups in their lives to take them where they want to go or give permission for them to do something. Although adults experience some of the same frustration as they wait at red lights, wait in doctor's offices, and wait on stores to open or an open lane in the grocery store to be available, they have a little more freedom and independence that youngsters. The illustrations, created with brown ink, watercolor paint, and colored pencils, are soft and pleasing to the eye and make the toys seem almost alive. The text and illustrations follow five toys that sit on the window sill and wait for someone to come and play with them and for something to happen. A toy owl, pig, bear, puppy, and rabbit all have things for which they yearn, but mostly they are content to wait to be noticed. As the weather and seasons change and other toys join them briefly, they continue to wait patiently. Young readers will smile at the surprise at the end as the five friends find their numbers to have multiplied. One of the aspects that I enjoyed most about this book was how the positions of the five toys keep changing. Not only do their places change, but the directions in which they face, which would seem to indicate that some small hands are involved in moving them around. The charm of this one grows on readers each time it is read, especially if one considers that life is actually what's happening to us even while we are waiting for something to happen. It already is.
January 26, 2016
The words cute and whimsical come to mind when describing this 2016 Caldecott honor winner. A group of toy figures placed on the window sill are quite content to watch what the seasons and the weather bring. Each object is passively, calmly waiting for something. The owl waits for the moon and night; the bear with a kite is waiting for wind; the puppy with sled waits for snow, and the pig with the umbrella is waiting for rain.
A new toy arrives to wait with the others. This special toy is a Russian nesting doll, thus when all dolls are pulled out, there are additional toys to wait..quietly, silently and the time is slow and waltz like.
Illustrated in lovely pastel colors. The charm of this book is the slow ease and patience. Creating a fairy like sense of simpleness and beauty. Sadly, the elephant no longer has to wait, he fell from the shelf and is broken in pieces. Nothing is hurried, and nothing is busy. It is incredible how this artist creates facial expressions on the toys.
A new toy arrives to wait with the others. This special toy is a Russian nesting doll, thus when all dolls are pulled out, there are additional toys to wait..quietly, silently and the time is slow and waltz like.
Illustrated in lovely pastel colors. The charm of this book is the slow ease and patience. Creating a fairy like sense of simpleness and beauty. Sadly, the elephant no longer has to wait, he fell from the shelf and is broken in pieces. Nothing is hurried, and nothing is busy. It is incredible how this artist creates facial expressions on the toys.
October 8, 2015
I couldn't get into this book the first couples of times I read it. The illustrations are absolutely lovely. The kind of picture you feel like touching the page. But at the beginning I couldn't see much more beyond that. Only after reading it a few times to my kids I started to cherish the message.
Waiting is such a hard thing to do! Especially for the little ones is just pointless torture. The characters in this story spend their time just waiting by the window. From their spot they can see clouds shapes, a rainbow, the day, the night, the changing seasons. There's a kind of calm the book transmits, and that's what my kids enjoy of leafing it through so many times.
Age range: 3 to 5 years old.
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
Waiting is such a hard thing to do! Especially for the little ones is just pointless torture. The characters in this story spend their time just waiting by the window. From their spot they can see clouds shapes, a rainbow, the day, the night, the changing seasons. There's a kind of calm the book transmits, and that's what my kids enjoy of leafing it through so many times.
Age range: 3 to 5 years old.
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
January 10, 2016
I want to love this, because I get that it's supposed to be beautiful, and I get why... I just don't love it. I didn't enjoy reading it. I don't think kids would really love it either. Seems to me like one that adults will find beauty in while kids will be left asking for a different book. I don't see them wanting to reread this one...
September 13, 2015
The minute I started reading this, I knew I wanted to have it. then when I read it to my granddaughter, she said, "They're like the toys in my room. They like each other, and probably talk when I'm not around." It's the sweetest story straight from the imagination.
October 29, 2015
A simple story of five friends waiting. All for different things, but equally eager to have that thing arrive.
This book is quiet and reverent. I loved reading it with my four year old.
Henkes does a great job with taking something so ordinary and making it feel existential.
This book is quiet and reverent. I loved reading it with my four year old.
Henkes does a great job with taking something so ordinary and making it feel existential.
September 4, 2015
This is a great cuddle book! Find someone to cuddle and read it together! ❤️
August 29, 2016
Oh my goodness, is this book precious. The story is sweet, the illustrations are endearing, and this has become an instant favorite for me with just one read-through!
December 25, 2017
24 DEC 2017 - lovely illustrations. Waiting is not so hard when you have your friends by your side.
September 23, 2015
2 and 1/2 stars for me. I love Kevin Henkes. I did not love this book. I didn't get it. I kept waiting for something to happen in the waiting book. Five toys are waiting at a window. There are wonderful nuances in the illustrations as each toy notices and waits for different things. But one visitor leaves and crashes out the window--what does that mean? Waiting for death? A nesting doll waits and then opens up her nests--does that mean waiting during pregnancy? If I don't "get it," I wonder how children will. I know I'm in the minority on this one--so many see it as a perfect picture book. I'm just scratching my head.
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