Waiting Is Not Easy!
Piggie promises a surprise but will not reveal it early, and Gerald's repeated groans expand as daylight gives way to night. The final starry spread changes the pace and visual scale of the book, so the payoff depends on elapsed time rather than the escalating mishap used in There Is a Bird on Your Head!.
Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems is estimated to take about 3 minutes to read aloud (197 words, 1 sentence a spread). Best for ages 3-6.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Words
- 197Word count
- Sentences per spread
- 1Text density
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5strong repeat appeal
- Vocabulary level
- 1/5plain words
- Best for
- Ages 3-6Age range
Our review
Piggie announces a surprise, refuses to reveal it early and stays calm while Gerald's groans grow across the page. The daylight-to-night transition gives the repetition a measurable direction, and the closing sky spread changes both the visual scale and the pace after a sequence dominated by dialogue.
Unlike There Is a Bird on Your Head!, there is no accumulating physical problem to solve. The book's whole mechanism is delay, so it is useful when the reading situation can accommodate repeated anticipation and a quiet final reveal. Readers seeking quick incident-by-incident action may find the long wait intentionally spare.
Before you buy it
The surprise is intentionally delayed until the closing night-sky scene. Readers wanting continuous action get repetition and anticipation instead.
Themes
- patience
- friendship
- night sky
- humour
Books like Waiting Is Not Easy!
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There Is a Bird on Your Head!about 3.5 minutes estimated · book review
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Grumpy Monkeyabout 6 minutes estimated · book review
Frog and Toad Are Friendsabout 22 minutes estimated · book review
Go, Dog. Go!about 6.5 minutes estimated · book review
Lists Waiting Is Not Easy! is on
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