I don’t know about you, but my kids aren’t the most patient people I know. I’m not either, for that matter, but I’m trying. I promise. And I think my kids are too. Still, it’s hard for all of us to practice waiting in a world where almost everything is on-demand. That’s why I’ve been loving the new book Waiting by Kevin Henkes. The slow-paced, minimally written story is just beautiful.

The characters in this story from one of my favorite children’s authors are all toys in a child’s bedroom, each waiting for something different. By the end of the book, everyone get what they have been waiting for. The one catch: the process was slow.

There aren’t words on every single page. And as you read it your kids will get the main message — waiting takes time, but it’s a lovely process if you slow down to enjoy it.

 

Kids learn about the art of waiting, in Waiting by Kevin Henkes.

Simple, beautiful illustrations in Waiting by Kevin Henkes

 

Kevin Henkes has taught my kids about being brave, about welcoming welcoming a new baby to the family, about learning not to worry, and about growing up in Owen, his Caldecott winning children’s book. I trust him to make sense of complicated issues for my kids in a way that makes them feel not only safe, but like they can take this issue head-on and conquer it. And Waiting is no disappointment.

You can find Waiting by Kevin Henkes at your local independent bookstore or from our affiliate Amazon. Note: If you order it online, you’ll have to wait for it, but probably only a day or two.