Waiting

Some toys wait for stuff by a window. Some have a good reason for waiting, some don't. Some just enjoy the state of waiting-ness. The first children's book I read that I think is so Zen it's completely over my head. LOVED IT.

I finally got to read this charming book. It seems like forever ago when I was in the heat of review copies that an ARC of this arrived. I glanced at it, loved the cover, admitted that I adore Kevin Henkes and commented to myself that this would obviously be a 5-star book and that I looked forward to reading it. Then apparently life happened and the kiddos absconded with the stapled paper pages and my review was yet to be had. However, it popped up on my radar again within the free trial of Kindle FreeTime Unlimited and I couldn't help but read it aloud this morning to my littles (5 and 2.5).

Now this winner of many awards is formatted well (as horizontal two-page spread images) for Kindle Fire and worth every award it has won. Kevin Henkes has created a special tale with gorgeous and tender illustrations. He uses words to tell a small story, but this book is also filled enough in a story of the imagery that it can work as a wordless picture book as well and be a full foundation of creativity between reader and child. For years, I have turned away from the idea of wordless picture books, but as I have been teaching year after year and the youngest of students pour through books by my side I can truly see the worth and this is a perfect one for it.

I have an early ARC of this book thanks to HarperCollins publishers. This review is based on reading the Kindle Fire version of this book. I definitely plan to want a real published copy for our shelf. Honest opinion and not required.

Sweet, but I think many Henkes feel like they're more for the adults reading than the kids listening.