Wait! Wait!

Publishing Details

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Description

Wait! Wait! is an ideal book for young children that gently follows their rhythms and preoccupations. With a text of few words, frequent repetitions, and delicate illustrations with which children will quickly identify, the book follows a young child's discovery of other creatures. This discovery comes with the recognition that while other creatures can suddenly appear they can also go away and disappear just as quickly. But the delightful appearance of a dad and his playful swoop of his toddler up onto his shoulders will remind little ones that the people who love them will always be there and will never, ever not come back.

Hatsue Nakawaki is a prolific author of children's books.

Komako Sakai was born in Hyogo, Japan, in 1966. After graduating from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Sakai worked at a kimono textile design company. She is currently one of the most popular authors and illustrators in Japan. Her books Emily's Balloon and The Snow Day have been published in the United States and were received with starred reviews and much acclaim.

Reviews

STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal "A lovely and intimate study of a child's growing sense of independence, capability, and curiosity." - Publishers Weekly "Sakai is a wizard with the medium, capturing the child's emotions with simple lines and bringing the animals fully to life... Parents and toddlers will see themselves in these pages and delight in Sakai's ability to bring them to life. A quiet gem." - School Library Journal "Parents and their little ones will snuggle together to read this joyous evocation of the newness and wonder of the world over and over again ... Tender and wistful and glorious." -- STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews "This is a tender and lovely work which perfectly illustrates a child's curiosity and early interaction with the natural world." -- The Butler County Public Library "The text is very simple with the title repeated throughout and then one additional sentence added for each creature. The illustrations shine. They are wonderfully organic with textures while the colors remain subtle and natural." -- Waking Brain Cells "Wait! Wait! is a nostalgic gift for us old folks, and quite the exciting adventure for the young 'uns. Artist Komoko Sakai's whimsical panels are the perfect companion to author Hatsue Nakawaki's invitingly simple, repetitive prose, with just the right rhythm to keep the youngest readers both engaged and entertained." -- The Smithsonian Book Dragon "In a story mirroring the staccato rhythms of a toddler, we meet a young child dressed in overalls, ever-curious about the natural world ... This is a gentle and perfectly paced story for very young children," -- Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Author Bio

Komako Sakai: Komako Sakai was born in Hyogo, Japan, in 1966. After graduating from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Sakai worked at a kimono textile design company. She is currently one of the most popular author/illustrators in Japan. Her books Emily's Balloon and The Snow Day have been published in the US and were received with starred reviews and much acclaim.