Waiting (Hardcover) by Kevin Henkes

About the Book

An owl, puppy, bear, bunny, and pig wait for marvelous things to happen.

Book Synopsis

What are you waiting for? An owl, a puppy, a bear, a rabbit, and a pig wait for marvelous things to happen in this irresistible and resonant 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 is a Caldecott Honor and Geisel Honor Book.

Share Waiting alongside Mo Willems's Waiting Is Not Easy at home or in a classroom--these books about waiting for kids will be enjoyed as picture book stories and also allow kids to explore their emotions about that ultimate frustration: waiting.

"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

From the Back Cover

Look at the owl

and the pig

and the bear

and the puppy

and the rabbit.

What do you think they're waiting for?
Something wonderful?
A visitor?
A surprise?
Maybe they're waiting for you!

Review Quotes

"Enigmatic, lovely . . . intriguing and inimitable."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Quiet yet evocative, this is a lovely melding of artwork, design, and text... Little ones, to whom each experience is new, will know what it's like to dream and wait."--Booklist (starred review)

"The story is all about quietly filling in the gaps...the protagonists' contentment with just waiting is contagious. Waiting as a joyful activity in itself is almost never celebrated; this Zen-like meditation might win some converts."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Henkes...understands the frustration young children feel in having to be patient. The gentle pacing of the story and generously spacious, light-filled illustrations convey a sense of calm anticipation. There's plenty of room here for a parent and child to talk about the wonders that the window offers."--Washington Post

"In his illustrations, Mr. Henkes uses soft nursery shades of pink, greenish-blue and chocolate brown on a creamy background to convey a feeling of such safety and contentment as to beguile even the most irritable adult tooth-gnasher."--Wall Street Journal

"Kevin Henkes is the stealthiest master of kids' lit around."--Boston Globe

"With economy, humor and warmth, Waiting quietly bridges reality and imagination, indoors and out, constancy and change, now and what comes next."--San Francisco Chronicle

"Henkes provides no deep meanings and sends no messages; he's just showing what waiting can be like. Perhaps listeners will find a model for making long waits seem less tiresome: be still and notice the world around you."--Horn Book (starred review)

"Waiting further cements Henkes's place alongside picture book legends like Margaret Wise Brown, Crockett Johnson, and Ruth Krauss, through his lyrical text, uncluttered yet wondrously expressive illustrations, and utmost respect for the emotional life of young children."--School Library Journal (starred review)

"Kevin Henkes, who both illustrates and writes with a gentle and elegant style, creates an appealing cast of toys to get at the concept of waiting-a tough one to convey to a child. ...Calming in a way that emphasizes the theme of patience."--New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice

"The soft tones and clean compositions of the attractive pictures...complement the simple text...Use this to bring a little peace and tranquility to a busy day or to an active storytime audience."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Waiting is a microcosm: five sentient toys on a windowsill. The picture book is visual elegant and nostalgic...The design, illustrations, and text of Waiting are exquisitely choreographed, each decision made with great care. ...They are waiting, just waiting. And something's bound to happen."--Shelf Awareness