Wait

Damn these people who feel compelled to control every aspect of their lives, including exactly how many children to have and when, and also feel compelled to book themselves into being busy-busy-busy. Have we still not learned to stop and smell the roses, and to enjoy our time with our child by walking at his pace, noticing the things he notices? Why are books like this still seen as valuable?! *I* certainly don't think so, as I live simply and thankfully every day... and so I did not enjoy this book. Too bad, because Portis can do better. Even this concept could have been done so much better, and then maybe have been worth reading.

This picture books highlights the everyday excitement that children see in the world around them that adults miss due to their busy lives. In vivid pictures and limited words, the book shows numerous examples of the adult rushing by something that the little boy wants to stop and look at. Finally the adult learns to slow down due to a rainbow and the perseverance of her son. This is a picture book. This is a great commentary on modern life. I have handed this book to a number of parents and they all either laugh or cry. While my daughter liked it a little, it seems to have more of an impact on adults.

This book is very easy to read considering there is only two words throughout the story: "hurry" and "wait". I liked the illustrations and the city sights that the boy and his mom walk through. I loved the end with the rainbow..and the fact that his mom / caretaker missed the train to admire the rainbow with her boy, even if it meant having to "wait" for another train. This is a good book that reminds people to take in the beauty around you and smile at those you pass by even when in a "hurry".

This was a cute book about stopping to smell the flowers every once and a while. I loved how you felt for the mother in the beginning and wanted them to keep going. However, at the end, when they get to stop and experience a beautiful moment together and look at the double rainbow, you realize how refreshing and loving it is to stop and share a moment with a loved one.

In this book, a child is rushed by his mother in order to catch the train in time. The child stops frequently to look at the world around him and makes his mother wait.
I think this book was very clever and deceptively simple. The theme of this book is to stop rushing and take a minute to notice the beauty around you. Children often experience being rushed by their parents and I think this book is a good way to remind kids to slow down. The illustrations were lovely and draws the reader in.

This is a very sweet story depicting a young child and their mother while they walk to catch a train. The character's in the story are very believable and it is easy to relate to them as most m others and children have been in similar situations. The mother is in a hurry to not miss the train and the child is seeing all the wondrous things of the world and must take them in, such as a puppy, construction worker, feeding the ducks, looking at fish, and finding butterflies. At the very end the running through the rain, and just about to catch the train when the little child calls "Wait!" again. Thank goodness the mother does wait, because she shares a special moment with her child as the sky is filled with rainbows. They do miss the show more train, but seeing the special moment they catch the reader feels it is worth it. I love the illustrations in this book. The style reminds me of "Snow Day" by Ezra Keats. They are simple clear illustrations that look as though the are created using pastels or a combination of mediums. show less

Another charming book from Antoinette Portis. The pattern of repetition in the text is established and then broken, ending with the satisfying role reversal at the end.