How often do you have to wait? How often a day? How often do your kids have to wait? Waiting can be hard for kids, but there are different activities they can do. In a society that seems to think the solution is handing them a screen, we have a new book (released today) that shares many fun ways to wait! The book is While We Wait by Bee Johnson. It is recommended for ages four to eight.
About the Book:
From the best-selling author of What Can a Mess Make? comes a charming picture book about a brother and sister who discover the unexpected delights of life's in-between moments while running errands with their mother.With joyful rhymes and gorgeous illustrations, this book invites readers to discover beauty in patience and cherish the opportunity of boredom.
Thunder rumbles.
Clouds hang low.
No umbrella!
Where to go?
Speckled sidewalk.
Stormy weather.
While we wait,
we squeeze together.
Filled with the highs and lows of a long day out, this story gently reminds us of the joy in simple moments spent together.
From Me:
I remember when Hazel was young, I always had a four-pack of crayons from a restaurant and a pack of Old Maid cards in my purse. They were perfect for when we were sitting down somewhere waiting. I remember a time at a restaurant with my parents and all four of us playing Old Maid while we waited for the food. When Hazel was young, I purposely did not have a smart phone. I wanted to be present with her and not on my device. Things changed when we were out with other families. This book however reminds us that there is something for the waiting and in the being bored. There are games to make up and other things to notice.
This book follows a mother and two children through a summer day of errands. There is a lot of waiting for the children. They wait for their mother to be ready, to shop at the summer market, to wait in line at the post office, to talk to a friend, to shop, for food at a restaurant, for the rain to stop and so much more. The kids find different things to do with each wait. Things like playing chase, making a friend, dancing to the beat of a drummer and so much more. The truth is they are noticing their environment and interacting with others in it. It is something we tend to not do when our eyes are glued to a screen. The book has beautiful illustrations and rhymes. It is fun and with a certain rhythm of its own.
This book is a fun one to read aloud. It is perfect for any story time--home, school, library. I can see kids enjoying the rhythm, rhymes, and illustrations. I love the connection to one's surroundings and others the book gives. It also shows when kids do not have devices, they can find other things to do. So, what do your kids do when they are waiting?
