Waiting for Mom - Softcover

Kindergarten-Grade 2 The three o'clock dismissal bell rings and the main character, a nameless hippopotamus child, waits for his mother in the school yard. Fears arise when she is much later than usual. The child's teacher comforts him by saying that his mother must have a good reason for being late, and the teachers and principal take care of him until his mother arriveswith an incredible but humorous excuse. Endearing childlike watercolors in spring colors show an imaginative world full of animals as they extend the simple text. (Curiously, the only humans shown are the police officers.) The short, clipped sentences, which are typical of a child's conversational style, make this an excellent choice for one-to-one sharing or independent reading. (Drawings are too small for use with a large group.) A reassuring book with a keen insight into a child's thoughts and fears. Orvella Fields, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

As in their previous collaboration, When Daddy Comes Home, Tyler and Davis depict a real problem with genuine sympathy for their character. The hippo heroine of this story waits every afternoon for her mother to pick her up from school, but this afternoon Mom is inexplicably late. The little hippo gets more and more worried, but she never leaves the school. When at last the mother (who's been caught in a traffic jam) arrives, the reader is almost as relieved as the small hippo. Tyler understands the importance of daily routines to children; her book will provide parents with a springboard for discussion of action that their children should take in similar situations. Davis's illustrations are lively, from first forlornness to the last ray of ultimately realized hope. Ages 26.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.