from far away. He stayed
a while,
then
he
left
and
never
returned."
I cannot wait until Sicily is old enough for us to share the Kevin Henkes collection on my library shelves! He does everything with such a gentle voice and has an uncanny ability to capture the essence of childhood. I have long been a fan. So, I was thrilled to receive a copy of Waiting.
As I said, he knows young children. In this new book, he helps them understand the idea of waiting ... a most difficult concept when you are young and not inclined to want to wait. His characters are tiny toys, sitting comfortably on a window ledge, each one waiting for something - except the rabbit who 'just liked to look'.
The text is just right. The full-colored artwork is beautifully rendered in brown ink, watercolors and colored pencils. He carefully creates the secret world where toys reside, without interference from the human world. As their waiting is rewarded, each of the toys is happy, including the rabbit who just likes looking out their window.
They live quiet lives, sleeping and waiting. When a visitor arrives and subsequently leaves, we learn why it will never return. Their days are filled with new discoveries and much enjoyment. When a cat joins them, she seems to have nothing on her mind. Wrong!
Never impatient with their lot in life, they happily spend time together in preparation for always being happy. It is a lofty goal. Emotional in its simplicity, and beautifully drawn, don't 'wait' to add this book to your collection.
No comments:
Post a Comment