Almost Time - by Gary D Schmidt & Elizabeth Stickney (Hardcover)

About the Book

A tender father-and-son story about the passage of time, the arrival of spring, and the excitement of reaching a goal.

Book Synopsis

A tender father-and-son story about the passage of time, the change of seasons, and the excitement of reaching a goal.

Eager for maple syrup, Ethan can't wait till sugaring time rolls around. And he can't wait till his loose tooth falls out. But his father keeps telling him it's not time yet, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't make time pass more quickly. The closeness of father and son is evident throughout as they wait and then celebrate the end of waiting. The brief, lyrical text is illuminated by G. Brian Karas's beautifully composed, evocative illustrations.

Review Quotes

? "Set in maple sugaring country, this tale by Schmidt (Pay Attention, Carter Jones) and Stickney (the pen name of Schmidt's late wife) examines the difficulty of waiting for exciting things when they unfold at the natural world's pace."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED review "A gentle tale that is as sweet and delicious as maple syrup."--Kirkus "Karas' distinctive mixed-media illustrations with muted hues and delicate lines expressively show the tenderness between father and child, emphasizing the perceived slowness of time passing and the difficulty of waiting." --Booklist "In addition to promoting the value of patience, Schmidt's story will also be valuable for early study of changing seasons and teaching where food comes from." --School Library Journal "Waiting for spring can wear on one's patience, but readers may find comfort sharing the burden with Ethan...until the warm and satisfying conclusion."--Horn Book "There's a gentle, spare folksiness to the storytelling... [kids will] relate to the eternity that is waiting for something wonderful and the joy of a good weekend breakfast."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Gary D. Schmidt is the best-selling author of Pay Attention, Carter Jones; Orbiting Jupiter; the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; and the Newbery Honor Book The Wednesday Wars. He is a professor of English at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Visit him online at hmhbooks.com/Schmidt.
Elizabeth Stickney is the pseudonym of Anne Stickney Schmidt, the late wife of writer Gary D. Schmidt. The author of poems, essays, and picture books, she spent her childhood winters in Maine and waited eagerly for sugaring time.
G. Brian Karas is the award-winning author and illustrator of many acclaimed picture books. He lives in upstate New York. Visit him online at www.gbriankaras.com and on Twitter @gBrianKaras.