The Waiting Song

This kid friendly book uses animals in the classroom to demonstrate the importance of problem solving and inclusion when working effectively with autistic children to promote learning!

This is a sweet little book with a huge message. Nigel, is an adorable four-year old hedgehog, who loves toys and cookies like all the other kids in his class but his behaviour is different. You see Nigel has autism.

His vocabulary is limited and he has difficulty using his manners and especially waiting for his turn to arrive. This causes a lot of friction with both his classmates and his little brother at home. He thinks he can just take their toys away and use it without asking and he gets upset when time and time again he is confronted with the loud response... "MINE!" Tears flow and he feels rejected and downhearted.

His patient teacher Miss Little and his loving Mother all work with him to overcome this behaviour. The results of Nigel 's actions need to be rectified but how?

Nigel takes some time out and he thinks and thinks until he has a eureka moment!!! He creates a Waiting Song. Yes, this could be the answer he is looking for. He puts his song into practice and low and behold it works!!!! By singing his song he is able to keep his impulses at bay, be more polite, and wait his turn.

The illustrations are big, bold, vibrantly coloured and very expressive. Each character portrayed is truly adorable.

"The Waiting Song" highlights the struggle of a child with autism and how loving, caring people around him can help him make sense of his world and become more a part of it, accepted and valued. I highly recommend this book.

I so love this book! My son likes that there is book about him and he was so excited as we read further into the book. Then that song! It's wonderful. This is now a nightly routine and he tries singing the lyrics when he needs patience in waiting his turn. I think it allows him to become self aware and center himself in his own and not me saying key words to trigger a reaction. I think over time he will remember most of the song and do it naturally in his own. I love that this book offers a way to self cope with his issues that aren't negative. The pictures also allows him to get a visual of the interactions between himself and others in a way

I really liked this book. It's different in a good way and I like that there's a song. My little one enjoyed the song (though i'm not sure we were ever in tune) and I think for people who have autism and other additional or learning needs the repetition helps understanding. My little one is 6 and has learning difficulties and traits of Austism. She loved it!

I thought this book was adorable! I am currently working on waiting with a few of my kiddos on the spectrum so I hope to be able to introduce this book! I love the repetition and social story quality of this book.