Stories for Growing
Cover of Waiting Is Not Easy!Ages 6 to 8
Handling big feelings

Waiting Is Not Easy!

Mo Willems

Ages 6 to 8
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 6–8 (early reader); Amazon listing: 3–6

The age tag follows Kirkus review. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Included in a librarian’s list of self-control read-alouds as a pick for patience and for waiting for something you really want.

Piggie tells her best friend Gerald she has a surprise for him, but he has to wait. Gerald pleads for hints, groans, and grows grumpy as the day passes. At twilight Piggie shows him the Milky Way, and Gerald agrees the wait was worth it.

Good forWaiting and impulse control

Recommended by Children’s Library Lady

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What children see in the story

Gerald is bursting to know and says so, loudly and repeatedly, but he stays and keeps waiting instead of giving up or grabbing at the surprise, and the wait pays off. Piggie announces a surprise, keeps it secret through a whole day of pleading, and delivers it as promised.

Why it’s on these shelves

Handling big feelings
Gerald is bursting to know Piggie’s surprise, and he pleads, groans and grumbles all day. He keeps waiting anyway, and when Piggie points up at the Milky Way, he agrees it was worth the wait.
Following through
Piggie tells Gerald she has a surprise, then holds firm through a whole day of begging for hints. She keeps the surprise a surprise until twilight, when she shows him the Milky Way.

Why pick it up?

Gerald sees the Milky Way and says it was worth the wait; the friends end the day together.

A note for parents

Gerald voices his frustration loudly and at length (one oversized groan knocks Piggie over, Kirkus says). The book models enduring a wait, not calm waiting; parents may want to praise the staying part. Kirkus age range 6–8 is the early-reader band; Amazon listing and the librarian read-aloud use suit 3–7 as a read-aloud. Early reader in the Elephant & Piggie series, told in speech bubbles.

Where this recommendation comes from

Children’s Library Lady

Included in a librarian’s list of self-control read-alouds as a pick for patience and for waiting for something you really want.

Read Children’s Library Lady’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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