This book is a “Best of the Best” pick from ourWinter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas!
*Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems. Hyperion, 2014. 64 pages.
- Reading Level: Easy/Leveled Readers (ages 4-8)
- Recommended for: Ages 0-8
**Spoiler alert** Elephant & Piggie fans will just have to take our word for it and skip the review if they don’t want to hear the ending.
Somehow, in this 22nd Elephant & Piggie book, Mo Willems creates another winner. This time, Piggie has a surprise for Gerald that she can’t wait to share with him. But oh, the agony of the wait! Gerald just. can’t. wait. any. longer. How can any surprise be worth waiting all day long? Perceptive readers will note the subtly darkening pages about two-thirds of the way through the book as well as the weight of Gerald’s frustration (literally: the weight of his “groan” nearly flattens Piggie). Suddenly, at full dark, Piggie’s surprise bursts on the page: the brilliant Milky Way. And Gerald agrees: This surprise was worth the wait. Now he can’t wait to show Piggie a surprise that will also be worth the wait (the sunrise). More than a story of friendship, this book celebrates creation and delayed gratification in deceptively simple text and cartoon illustrations.
About the Series: The Elephant & Piggie books work for preschool read-alouds just as well as they do for new readers. An excellent resource for teaching new readers how to read with expression, the books feature cartoon bubbles with obvious punctuation and font size guidelines (bigger letters = bigger voice/excitement). Gerald and Piggie are best friends, but oh, so very different. Where Gerald is cautious and methodical, Piggie is extravagant and bold. The duo perfectly complements one another even as they gently teach each other lessons about life and friendship. Fresh, immediate, and thoughtful, Gerald and Piggie will quickly earn a place in the young reader’s repertoire.
UPDATE: Waiting Is Not Easy! is a 2015 Theodore Seuss Geisel honor book, awarded by the American Library Association for outstanding early readers.
Cautions: none
Overall Value: 5 (out of 5)
- Moral/worldview value: 5
- Artistic value: 5
Categories: Starred Review, Easy/Leveled Readers, Character Values, Gift Books, Award Winners
Cover image from amazon
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Love, love Gerald and Piggie books!
Melinda, You and Betsy could have wonderful conversations. You both remind me so much of each other!