Waiting: A Gentle Story About Patience and Imagination for Children (Ages 4–8)

Beautiful illustrations, sweet story. Not overly wordy which is great for my littles at this stage in their listening ability.

We recently visited our 3 1/2 year old granddaughter and I brought this book along as a gift to her. From the first moment I read it to her she was quite taken as I was too. We read it every day together for a week and each time noticed the subtle facial expressions and body placements of the waiting crew. There is so much in these words and pictures and we were especially fond of the page with the storm out the window and the expression on the pigs face. We laugher and loved this book so much I can't express how touching this book became to my granddaughter and I. After the second night she took turns reading it to gramma and papa, by looking at each page and remembering all the words. She also learned a new word in this book and we were so surprised that she even remembered it - Particular! I am going to get another copy to have at our house for when she visits. The drawings are beautiful, such a subtle, quiet treasure.

Great story and art work. My grandbabies love it!

I purchased this book for my daughter and read it on the Kindle app -- reading books on the Kindle is the toddler's new 'thing' - I have to say I'm wholly to blame for starting this habit and I've spent quite a bit of money on books for the Kindle in recent weeks -- since starting this trend I've found that many books aren't suited for the Kindle, in my opinion this is one of those books -- Now one can argue that no books are suited for the Kindle, maybe you just like the aesthetic of the printed page? -- and maybe that's me -- but I don't think this book can be done justice on a Kindle -- and with that said, it's not worth the current price to purchase it for that medium. Summary: Several small toys/knick knacks if you will, sit on a windowsill waiting for something or nothing at all -- I do think the book is worthwhile, it's not a classic by any means -- but it has a thoughtful voice, one in which a lesser writer could not have achieved in so few pages --I found the book engaging, wondering what will happen with each toy as their waiting ends - well I have to say I was a bit disappointed on most fronts, I guess I was expecting something more clever... but possibly I just got a face full of reality, the book is sort of melancholy so I guess it works-- now that's my opinion -- the toddler was a little less impressed, this so far has been a one read book(that very well may change) and with that I circle around to the cost of the Kindle version -- she was engaged throughout the reading, no flying off my lap or engaging in other activities, but she didn't shout Again!! as she usually does when really excited about a story -- So in the end, if I'm going to have a one read book, I probably would have preferred something more tangible -- I would give this book 3 and a half stars, but for the strength of the writing, I think I can round up -- plus, I truly did like it...

When I first picked up my copy of the nationally acclaimed book Waiting, I wasn't sure what to expect. Prepare to enter into Henkey's world; this golden egg hatched from a stellar production team and an all-star cast. Pig, Bear, Dog, Rabbit, and Owl; this motley crew will give you glimpse into the secret lives of stuffed animals and toys left to their own devices by a windowsill. Nominated for a Golden Globe in 2014 for her performance in National Geographic's "Owls, who gives a hoot?", Owl's performance in "Waiting" left me breathless; she manages to capture the feeling bestowed by the inexorable arrival of the moon each night, which is indeed a lunar beauty, yet also imperfect, pocked and marred, an allegory to Owl's psyche. The consternation on Pig's face as she waits for rain embodies the unease of an uncertain future. Dog represents patience and tolerance; unrelenting, he prepares for the brutal, yet inevitable winter. Bear; he represents adaptation. As the winds of change ebb and flow, he wields his trusty kite; it is both his shield and armament. While mastering the forces which dominate his environment, his rise, and ultimate fall, remind us all that while we may conform to nature's tenets, we are truly slave to their fickle whims. Rabbit represents virtue; his mind is clear, his heart, pure. Unclouded by the wants and the desires of the others, Rabbit serves to illustrate what often evades each and every one of us; when one abandons worldly desires, true peace is discovered. She waits for nothing; she waits for everything. The novella climaxes as Elephant, an effigy of dark romanticism, spends fleeting moments conspiring with the group. Elephant's demise represents the rejection of outsiders. I challenge you to examine both your own heart, of those of the characters; do you see yourself, slowly, inch by inch, urging, compelling, Elephant towards the edge? Are we no different than the characters in the book, flawed? Sit down before you begin; Waiting takes you on a journey you'll never forget, and have you yearning for more.

the book was great, kids enjoyed it so did the adult.

We read this as a bedtime story to my then 2 yr old son. The lyricism and imagery made it one of his favorites. Truth be told, it became one of mine too! There are books you will read to your kids 100 times because they like it -and you’ll do it without hesitation because you love them and that’s what parents do, but seldom will you also take some sort of genuine joy from story itself. This is one of those books. A simple, yet truly magical tale. I recommend this book to everyone with small children.

My favorite book ever! I buy this for baby gifts often! I admire the author so very much, and hope to meet him some day, as he lives nearby. I have an extra copy waiting for an autograph. It's a whimsical cute story about toy animals that wait at the window for special things to happen. The drawings are adorable, the story is simple, and it's a very pleasant read for calm time. It's not a story you get tired of reading either. Even though the drawings are line drawings, they're so well done, you never get tired of looking at them. Sure to be a book that comes out again and again!

Liked this book......and so did my grandchildren. And since we don't see them often, we can read it again, and again, or, as time passes have them read it to us.....Good read!

Beautiful children picture book. A story simple yet powerful. Haunting illustrations

My child was captivated by this book. She got it when she was 2y.o. For the next 6 months she was asking for it almost every other day.

Sweet story and beautiful artwork. The Grandchildren and I loved it.

Mein Sohn (3) liebt dieses Buch, ich muss es seit Tagen abends vorm Schlafen gehen vorlesen. Sehr schöne Zeichnungen.