Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Johnson (What Can a Mess Make?) understands that biding one's time can be hard work--not least during a day of endless errands. As a caretaker and two rambunctious siblings head out (a note from Dad reads "Be back soon"), playful short rhymes and stylish visuals, reminiscent of mid-century modern commercial art, sweep readers along. The children, shown with light brown skin, at first make constructive use of their surroundings to ground them. At the farmers market, "Bucket drummer/ makes a beat// While we wait, we move our feet," and at the post office, entertaining a toddler helps the time to pass ("While we wait,/ we make a friend"). Things grow trickier at a vintage shop as well as at a crowded, noisy diner, where the kids "fall apart," littering the counter with overturned creamer containers, straw sleeves, and sugar packs. A rainstorm under a shared awning resets the dynamic ("While we wait,/ we squeeze together"), until bedtime reveals that waiting can be hard on grown-ups, too: after a day of offspring-wrangling, the solo adult falls asleep sitting up, too pooped to turn out the light. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two kids entertain themselves throughout a day of errands. An image of a short to-do list on the refrigerator opens this tale that follows a pair of siblings as they run around town with their parent. Though the list contains just a few items, like buying flowers and a dress, the kids nevertheless seek creative ways to keep from becoming bored: befriending another child at the post office, playing dress-up (and making a mess) at the thrift store, and counting the spots on a puppy while their parent chats with an acquaintance. Occasionally, impatience--or hungry bellies--leads to less productive ways to pass the time, but there are always puddles to splash in after waiting out a quick rainstorm, a warm and welcoming home to come back to, and books to read while dinner is prepared. Bright but mellow illustrations create a calm, engaging domestic environment, with just enough clutter to feel lived in. Simple rhymes keep the story flowing from place to place until the day is done as the kids model both realistic and more idealized, wholesome ways of occupying their time while out and about. Parent and children are brown-skinned; their community is diverse. A cozy tale of youngsters discovering ways to have fun while also learning the importance of patience.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
