Nearly every child’s bedroom has a shelf of toys. The five toys in Waiting watch the sky outside their window, each waiting for something different.  The owl waits for the moon, the rabbit for the stars. The dog on the sled longs for the snow, the pig with the umbrella wants rain and the bear needs the wind to fly his kite. Sometimes they leave, but always return. Other toys join them and bring surprises.
Kevin Henkes’ latest picture book has little plot, but it does inspire the reader’s imagination to consider just what toys are doing while they are not being used. These five seem to have a relationship that welcomes newcomers and mourns the loss of broken friends that leave and do not return.
Pastel colored illustrations are simple and reinforce the notion that the window is in a child’s nursery. A former teacher, Jennifer Minicus is currently a full-time wife and mother.