We Waited for You: Now We're a Family

by Cindy Chupack, Emily Hamilton (Illustrator)

Good things are worth waiting for – and a child is the BEST thing! With breathtaking illustrations and a sweet rhyming text, We Waited for You celebrates the moment a child and parent form a family.

"We waited for you.

Sometimes it seemed everybody we knew

even bears at the zoo

had a baby or two

but we waited for you.

We dreamed about you.

Dreamed about all the adventures we'd share

once you were there

safe in our care, sweet dreams of you."



A book that will resonate with anyone who's ever waited for a child – whether it be a new parent, fertility challenged parent, adoptive parent, or grandparent. Share the joy of welcoming a child with everyone!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Adoption, Family, Parenting

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2023

About the author

Cindy is the author of The Between Boyfriends Book - A Collection of Cautiously Hopeful Essays, a New York Times bestseller that has been translated into nine languages. In addition, she has written humorous essays about dating and relationships for O, The Oprah Magazine (where she had her own column called “Live Your Best Love Life”), Glamour (where she had a column called “Dating Dictionary”), Harper’s Bazaar, Allure, People, Self, Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, Slate and the New York Times. Her new comic memoir, The Longest Date - Life as a Wife, was released by Viking in January 2014 and is currently out in paperback.

Cindy Chupack has won three Golden Globes and two Emmys for her work as a writer/producer of ABC’s Modern Family and HBO’s Sex and the City. Several episodes she penned -- Little Bo Bleep (Modern Family) and Evolution, Attack of the 5'10" Woman, Just Say Yes, Plus One is the Loneliest Number, I Love a Charade, and Splat! (Sex and the City) -- were individually nominated for Writer's Guild and Emmy awards.

Other TV credits include Everybody Loves Raymond, Coach, and the hour-long romantic comedy anthology series Cindy created for NBC called Love Bites (all eight Love Bites episodes are available on Amazon).

Her first screenplay (the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel, How to Be Good, with the late, great Laura Ziskin producing for Miramax) made the Black List for Hottest Unproduced Screenplays of 2008.

Cindy grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and received a journalism degree from Northwestern University, then moved to New York City to work in advertising right out of college. She sold her first humorous essay to a women’s magazine in 1990, and the piece was spotted by a TV producer who encouraged her to pursue comedy writing, which she’s been doing ever since.

Cindy lives in Los Angeles with her husband, their daughter and their St. Bernard rescue, Tink. Tink made Cindy realize that she was, in fact, a dog person, and that "conversion" inspired her to write and direct the award-winning short film, "Whose Dog Is It Anyway?” starring Sarah Paulson.

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for my toddler's bedtime. It's a sweet story and I have read it many times. A good story for kids to listen to because they will feel loved. Loved that their parents waited for them. It's cute to bring up the birthday wishes for you and the wishes at the fountains. In the end, you came and you said you also waited. So the parents felt loved too and it was worth it to wait for you. I enjoyed the illustrations.

Thank you Sourcebooks Kids for the opportunity to read and review.

[donna backshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We waited for you."

Honestly that's the whole message, but it's such a powerful one. This book doesn't talk about pregnancy or surrogacy or adoption, about types of families, just about how the parents waited for this one special child that was destined to be theirs. It's a beautiful reassurance for any child that they are wanted and that they are special.

And an acknowledgement that maybe, just maybe, that child was waiting for that specific family too.

I was crying before I read 10 words and am still sniffling now. Honestly this is such a beautiful book, one I want to give at every single baby shower.

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for accepting my request to read and review We Waited for You.

Published: 07/11/23

This is a sweet and from the heart message to a child from his parents. The message conveys how much they wanted a child and all that they did until he came.

The illustrations are soft and compliment the story.

I would appropriately gift this.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the digital ARC Netgalley.

This was a sweet book emphasizing waiting for a child, having to deal with heartbreak. Beautiful images and decent inclusion. I would say this is less a book for children and more for parents.

As an older mom who had to wait, I appreciate the subtle hints of anxiety and fear of not feeling competent at pregnancy. It's a hard road and the rainbow baby really resonates as the mama of one.

[Taylor Janigian · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh no so now i have to be a children’s author and illustrator if you even care.

[PJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is so cute and the amount of diversity in such a small book is amazing!!

This book tells the story to a child about how their parents were waiting just for them, even when everyone else had babies and they didn't. While it is a heartwarming story, I think it is also important to consider the prospective of foster and adoptee children in this book. Foster children do not exist to complete families; neither do adopted babies from birth. Regardless of love given, there is still trauma that must be addressed and I think it's important to listen to foster children's voice on the subject. There is a huge implication tied to "waiting for a specific child." Please reach out to foster children for more information.

Illustrations: 5/5
Story: 3/5
Diversity; 5/5

[Amberleigh Million • a.millionbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful and heartwarming story of parents waiting for the arrival of their children. I think I enjoyed this one more than my boys since the message touched my heart but it still kept their attention. The illustration was beautiful and colorful. I loved the diversity of the families.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOK Kids for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Kids, for the advance reading copy.

This is such a well illustrated book with so much to show rather than so much to tell. I feel the parents who welcomed their kids after trying for a while would know what the book is telling us. It’s so well presented. Love it so much. Every child is precious. Every life is precious.

[Ossy Firstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hangat sekali, jika anak-anak membaca ini pasti merasa disayangi oleh orang tuanya 💙💙

[Emily✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet. Some of the rhymes are a bit of a reach. The artwork isn't my style, but it's cheerful and colorful. I appreciate the message and that it could apply to any situation in which a child is added to the family (birth, adoption, etc.), although all of the illustrated children are younger. There is background diversity with regard to skin color, one woman in hijab, one child in a wheelchair, and a couple instances where a family is shown with two adult men or two adult women (so one could infer LGBTQ+ rep).

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing this eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!

[Jeske · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet book with beautiful illustrations telling in a childlike manner about the long journey for parents towards finally meeting their baby. I can’t wait to read this to my miracle IUI baby girl.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that spoke to me when I saw it although we are still in the waiting game while not quite sure whether we will ever get to the family stage whether natural (highly doubt it) or though other means. And as such I wanted to see how this book would read to me as an individual.

Although the story is more written for adults it explores the frustration, the jealousy, the heartbreak, the hurt, etc. that parents feel when they are in the place where they are unable to complete the dream. And although not every parent will have the same response to this dark spot it does most definitely feel upon those troubled times. And from there the book then brings in the hope families have as their wait comes to a stop.

The book does refer more to natural results as the way to end the wait but it is vague enough that it can easily be interpreted as a dream that one may have had or the "nightly" talks after work that may result in a couple taking steps for fostering, adopting and/or surrogating a child. As a result some readers may not feel comfortable with this type of portrayal.

Meanwhile the text has a nice flow to it with each page have a bold sentiment to it while the rest of the verses are used to build upon that sentiment. And at the same time the book itself is illustrated with brightly colored yet detailed illustrations that are softly lulling to the reader while reminding them that it is a children's book still in the end.

For those who want to bond with their little one or those who are looking for a rather decent type of gift for expectant parents who have had a struggle to complete their family than this book will make for a cute goodnight snuggle story.
"

**I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Ashley Love Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

By: Cindy Chupack

Illustrated by: Emily Hamilton

Published by: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

There was a time in my life when I was sure I wasn’t going to have a child. It was a difficult season in my life, and one I walked through quietly as everyone around me celebrated pregnancies, adoptions, and births. I was genuinely happy for everyone around me, but that didn’t change the deep ache inside, or the steady stream of tears I cried. I am thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness, the gift I have in my four boys who seem to be growing up way too fast, and the people who came alongside me during that time even if they didn’t know specifically what I was going through.

We Waited For You perfectly manifested my feelings during that difficult season, and reminded me of so many other dear friends who have or continue to struggle with the season of waiting. Cindy Chupack nailed the desire, pain, and great joy parents endure while they wait on their baby to arrive, and Emily Hamilton did an excellent job illustrating this sweet, touching, beautiful book. We Waited for You is the perfect book for any parent who is going through or who has gone through this difficult season, and is a beautiful read to share with your babies when they finally arrive.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC read! This beautiful book was released July 23, 2023 for sale, and I absolutely adored reading it!

[Kourtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We Waited for You: Now We're a Family" by Cindy Chupack is a heartwarming picture book that tells the story of a couple who yearned to become parents. Despite the fact that everyone they knew seemed to be having babies, the couple patiently waited for their own little one to arrive. Throughout the book, they dreamt about all the adventures they would have with their child, and their love for their future child only grew stronger with each passing day.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Laura Cornell, and the gentle, rhyming text is perfectly suited for young children. It's a perfect book to read to young children who might be wondering why they don't have a sibling or why they don't have a baby of their own. It's also a great book for parents who have struggled with infertility, as it offers a message of hope and patience.

Overall, "We Waited for You: Now We're a Family" is a touching and heartfelt book that celebrates the joys of family and the enduring love of parents for their children. It's a book that will resonate with families of all kinds and is sure to become a cherished part of any family's library.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of this book is indicative of the absolutely lovely and appealing art work that is found inside. Five stars for such sweet illustrations for this story of families and love.

That said, the fanciful text may be confusing to some of the story’s intended audience (looking for a baby via balloon, for example). Also, the parents’ grief may be a bit of a burden to a child.

All that said, what comes across clearly is how deeply the adults wanted to be parents and what a wanted baby came into their lives. And, of course, all children want to know that they were wanted.

If this is a story about adoption or infertility, at least in part, I think that some more direct conversation after reading this title would be a good idea. Also, there is nothing at all related to birth and maybe that would have been welcome as well.

I wish that I did not have these quibbles. I very much like the concept and the illustrations are wonderful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for this title. All opinions are my own.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Waited for You: Now We're a Family is a poetic journey that captures the essence of longing, dreams, and the overwhelming love that culminates when a family is formed. The heartwarming rhymes weave seamlessly with breathtaking illustrations, creating a timeless tale that resonates with parents and children alike. The book beautifully acknowledges the uniqueness of each child, making it a perfect gift for any parent cherishing the miracle of new life.

I'm a longtime fan of Cindy Chupack. Her hilarious novels have been staples throughout my adulthood. Her newest book is an enchanting celebration of the anticipation and joy accompanying a child's arrival for all types of families, adopted or not. This debut picture book tugs at the heartstrings, highlighting the enduring bond between parent and child. The illustrations and the message are beautiful—a true celebration of families!

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet rhyming book written to a child whose parents had to wait a long time for them. The parents and children change in every scene until the end but the children are always young. It suggests issues with infertility with talk of crying and waiting for the child. In one scene the mother is pregnant (or a birth mother?). Adoption is assumed otherwise. The poem says the parents flew up into a rainbow to finally get the child. There is a lot of inclusion in most of the illustrations of other families. The happy ending shows a rather stereotypical white couple happily getting their white baby who finally slides down the rainbow and comes to them. The topics of adoption or other ways of building families are not brought up.

This is a positive, sweet book but may leave children with more questions. Suited for preschool and younger.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a poetic and lyrical story about parents-to-be waiting for their sweet baby to arrive in their lives. Some wait longer than others, some struggle and cry, but in the end, when that sweet little one is placed in their arms, they know it was all worth it.

This is honestly one of the sweetest books I’ve read. For anyone who has wanted a child and waited, no matter how long, they can relate to this. This story is a great story for your children to remind them how wanted and loved they are and always have been, even before they were here. The author used a beautiful and lyrical approach to sharing the story of waiting for that sweet little baby. The illustrations are beautiful and delicate, they portray the story being told perfectly.

I think this would make such a great gift for new parents and parents-to-be to one day read to their children.

[wordjellyreview · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Waited for You , Now We’re A Family by Cindy Chupack, illustrated by Emily Hamilton
A perfect read-along book for all the children born with assisted reproductive technology and for mothers and parents who have waited for a long time to give birth to a child.
The book, We Waited For you celebrates the birth of a baby, and describes how the parents yearned for their baby’s arrival. It illustrates the desires and aspirations that the parents hold very close to their heart for their little one. The book, We Waited for You sings the praises, of the baby who arrives majestically seated on a rainbow. The lovely rhyming text, and the pleasing illustrations will ingrain the message of bonding love that the parents share with their children.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cindy Chupack’s picture book is perfect for a parent to share with their child, no matter how they became a family. Text alludes to a long wait for the family to be blessed with the child meant for them but the circumstances are not specific. The set of parents pictured vary, but one mom is pictured as pregnant and one section mentions the tears cried while waiting which could easily apply to adoption, various fertility methods or just time. The central message is clear—no matter what, the arrival of one unique child was well worth the wait, for whatever reason.

Thanks for the print arc, Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! What an absolutely beautiful and heart warming book!!
This is one of those precious children's books that doubles as a meaningful book for the adult reader as well. The book's message of wanting and waiting for a child, with the undertones of longing, wishing and disappointment, is just perfectly told. Not to mention the gorgeous illustrations which include depictions of many different family structures, abilities, and races.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this book. It truely is a beautiful and emotionally stirring story for both child and adult readers.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure I get this book. The story is lovely, and the illustrations are nice. The story has a bit of a cadence and at times tries to rhyme but does not rhyme well. The idea is we waited for you and at first read, I thought it was an adoption story. But then towards the end, there’s an illustration of a pregnant mother, so maybe it’s that sometimes parents are older, and they waited for their child. I’m not quite sure. The book is lovely but since I can’t place say or the meaning behind it, it’s not sure I would read or share with other people.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical mums and dads, sibs and grands, here lyrically express their unmitigated joy at the prospect of the arrival of a new baby in the family, no matter the process that led to the blessed event. Don't be deceived by the simplicity of the text: Ms. Chupack's delightful picture book radiates pure joy on every page, and every page shouts the praises of familial love. Reassuring, upbeat, and sure to be the object of repeatedly requested readings!

[Briana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Heartwarming, beautiful, and inclusive. This brings me to tears!
This describes the journey many people experience while waiting their turn for a baby.
Whether it is from an infertility struggle, waiting on that rainbow baby, or even could be for someone on the adoption/surrogate journey.
It talks about the hardships of the journey to the moment of holding that baby and knowing it was all worth it.
This books illustrations are so delicate, dainty, and beautiful.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

We Waited For You is a touching story for any child. The book is vague enough about the process of becoming a family that it could fit a multitude of situations. It does not focus on any specific process of becoming a parent. The families illustrated are diverse and representative of many people.

[Ditty P · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I received an eARC of this picture book through NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review this work.

The illustrations are sweet and show some diversity in terms of types of families and skin colors, which I appreciated. There is a low amount of text on each page which would make this easy to share with and read to young children. The wording is vague enough to allow this to work for families who have been waiting for a child for many different reasons (such as adoption, infertility, or other things that may cause a family to wait), but it's specifically about welcoming a new infant/baby to the family (as opposed to an older child).

The book almost feels like it's more for the parent(s) (it would make a nice gift) than for a child, depending on how a family feels about sharing figurative expressions of how their child came into their life with their child (it may feel confusing to kids of some ages to hear they called down to their parents "from a cloud"). There's a reference to "Rock a Bye Baby" in the text which is also more a nod to adults than children, saying they left out the phrase "cradle will fall" when singing to baby - I don't think children would necessarily understand this unless they have experienced the lullaby or know the line.

[Sam W · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book and story overall were cute, but it was definitely more a picture book meant for the parent rather than the child. It was very focused on the parents experience and difficulties adding a child into their lives rather than the strong of the actual addition, which was a two page spread in the story. I do not say this to discredit anyone's personal journey or experience, this is just how I feel the book reads.

[Nadia Jonesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for allowing me to read this beautiful book. We Waited for You was a very heartwarming book for me to read. I know waiting is hard but it is always worth it. I really reiterates that in this book very well. The next step is to treat the child with love they deserve.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small children love to hear their story. How they became part of the family. It is very bonding and confidence building. This sweet story of all different families that waited for their baby to come. How beautiful this story is and needs to be told again and again.

A special thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, toddler-appropriate story of a family waiting for a child. Whether due to adoption, fertility, or something else, it's never specified, but the emotional weight of waiting is gently illustrated, and in the end, the baby arrives on a rainbow. 100% will recommend this to families with a baby they've longed for.