It’s hard to wait these days, especially without a screen. While We Wait by Bee Johnson uses beautifully detailed illustrations to show how two sisters wait together as their mom runs errands. The girls make friends, pet dogs, try on hats, and listen to music as they tag along on a series of stops. The poetry and flow of the writing is engaging and light. I truly loved the vivid colors and detail of the house, farmer’s market, and diner.

I read this with my 8-year-old son and we loved pointing out the little details together – a broken crayon, a dinosaur magnet, watermelon for sale, and packages on the floor. I will gladly read this one again and again. In a world where instant gratification is available 24/7, While We Wait has a great message: engage with each other, with the outside world, with imagination, with patience, and have fun!

Thanks to the tagged publisher for the gifted ARC!

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From the author of What Can a Mess Make, this is another slice-of-life book in verse. This one was of particular interest because the little girl in the book reminded me so much of my own kid. Can't wait for this to come out and share with her.

ebook c/o NetGalley

This was a fun slice of life story about kids who are waiting for their moms to finish running errands. Without toys or screens to entertain themselves, they find fun in the everyday surroundings of where they are. I love the imagination and observations. It definitely reminded me of my childhood. I recommend this book for schools and libraries.

I have two littles and their dad has a schedule that is very inconsistent, which made me I appreciate this book so much! (And made me a little teary) I think it perfectly showed how much goes on in one day and that you might have to wait awhile for dad to come home. AND you can still have fun while you wait.

The illustrations in this book were beautiful and so well done! The detail is top notch. I love them so much.

This will be a book we pick up as soon as it comes out and will read very often!

Thank you NetGalley, Bee Johnson and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an early copy of this book! We loved it.