Waiting Is Not Easy! An Elephant & Piggie Book
Giggly series installment taps into common kid frustration.
Kids say
Based on 2 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Waiting Is Not Easy! is another spirited installment in Mo Willems' award-winning Elephant & Piggie series for beginning readers. Like I Am a Frog, it's a straightforward lesson with a small surprise at the end, delving less deeply than usual into the two mismatched characters' endearing friendship. Still, it's a humorous lesson for kids often frustrated by waiting and what kinds of rewards waiting can bring. As in the other Elephant & Piggie books, the story's told in conversation bubbles and in the exaggerated expressions of the animal characters, making it easy for parents of kids with social delays to explore conversation tools and feelings.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Piggie has a surprise for Elephant. But ... he'll have to wait. Elephant tries to be patient, but his laments get louder and louder ("GROAN!") until he can't take it anymore, especially when it starts to get dark outside and he worries that he won't even be able to see Piggie's surprise. Piggie finally tells him to look up in the dark sky. That's when Elephant, sharing a moment of awe and wonder with his best friend, realizes all the waiting was well worth it.
Is It Any Good?
The title alone automatically connects with kids: WAITING IS NOT EASY! -- especially in Elephant's case, where you have no idea what you're even waiting for. Elephant gets to moan and complain in all capital letters, and kids will adore the chance to shout out "GROAN!" Mostly because that's not the behavior most parents allow while waiting at the post office or in line at the grocery store. Let out those loud Elephant groans as you rush through the pages, new readers, and enjoy the awesome surprise at the end -- while your adult listeners gently remind you that Piggie is right: There are plenty of things worth waiting for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about waiting. Is it ever easy? What can you do to make it easier?
Did you like the surprise at the end? Did you notice the pages of the book getting darker before Elephant did?
What's your favorite Elephant & Piggie book? Why?
Book Details
- Author: Mo Willems
- Illustrator: Mo Willems
- Genre: For Beginning Readers
- Topics: Friendship, Horses and Farm Animals, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date: November 4, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 64
- Available on: Hardback
- Award: ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated: February 4, 2020
Our Editors Recommend
-
Merry Christmas, Splat!
Fluffy cat in a fluffy and sweet holiday tale.
-
Big Snow
Delightful tale of a child eagerly awaiting first snowfall.
-
Summer Jackson: Grown Up
Fun trading-places story of girl who can't wait to grow up.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate