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Wait and See
It's Saturday, and Jo has some money to spend. So she and her mom go shopping, while Dad stays at home to make lunch. But what should she spend her money on? The cookies and cakes at Mrs Tomaselli's bakery look delicious but so do the rosy red apples at the fruit stand. Jo can't decide --
she'll have to wait and see.
In the end, Jo finds a surprising and generous way to use her money which brings some unexpected rewards and the tale closes with an entertaining and ingenious twist. This is a beautifully told and sympathetic story set in the context of an interracial family and accompanied by Eileen Browne's
bright, realistic illustrations that capture the happy bustle of a shopping expedition.
she'll have to wait and see.
In the end, Jo finds a surprising and generous way to use her money which brings some unexpected rewards and the tale closes with an entertaining and ingenious twist. This is a beautifully told and sympathetic story set in the context of an interracial family and accompanied by Eileen Browne's
bright, realistic illustrations that capture the happy bustle of a shopping expedition.
- GenresPicture Books
28 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 1988
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Tony Bradman
657 books43 followersTONY BRADMAN graduated from Cambridge University and worked in journalism for many years as an editor and reviewer. Now a full-time author, he has produced several successful anthologies for young readers for Random House Children's Books, including three focusing exclusively on football: the FOOTBALL FEVER titles.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 5, 2018
This is a lovely multicultural book celebrating differences, friendships, community and family. The story is set on a Saturday morning . Jo our main character is going to the shops with mum while dad stays home to prepair lunch.
Jo has some money to spend and mum has to go to the post office. On their way they pass an array of shops and jo decides what she will spend her money on. At each shop despite seeing something tempting she decides to “wait and see”. There is a lovely twist at the end but you’ll have to read the book yourself and wait and see what happens.
The illustrations are beautiful, Eileen Brown has done a marvellous job portraying realistic pictures of ethnic minorities. I particularly like the picture of the post office queue where you can see lots of different skin tones ,clothing and mannerisms, giving off a multicultural vibe. I also loved how Dad is shown in vignettes preparing lunch.
Jo and her family appear other books such as Through my window and In a minute. I’d definitely recommend this to younger readers, it’s a lovely book to share with children. I also think people from ethnic minorities will particularly love this book.
Jo has some money to spend and mum has to go to the post office. On their way they pass an array of shops and jo decides what she will spend her money on. At each shop despite seeing something tempting she decides to “wait and see”. There is a lovely twist at the end but you’ll have to read the book yourself and wait and see what happens.
The illustrations are beautiful, Eileen Brown has done a marvellous job portraying realistic pictures of ethnic minorities. I particularly like the picture of the post office queue where you can see lots of different skin tones ,clothing and mannerisms, giving off a multicultural vibe. I also loved how Dad is shown in vignettes preparing lunch.
Jo and her family appear other books such as Through my window and In a minute. I’d definitely recommend this to younger readers, it’s a lovely book to share with children. I also think people from ethnic minorities will particularly love this book.
November 23, 2019
Great book celebrating differences and diversity
September 11, 2020
Ages 4 and up. The sweetly told story of a shopping trip teaches the importance of learning to choose and stay within one's means in an age-appropriate way. Set in an interracial family.
September 7, 2013
Wait and See by Tony Bradman and Eileen Browne begins with Jo, her mum and dad having breakfast on a Saturday morning. This setting is portrayed with a colourful image of the family in their kitchen. Eileen Browne’s colourful illustrations include extra details such as the kitchen utensils, condiments, food and coins on the table. Her images create a vivid setting for children to immerse in, as well as adding visual aids to the plot.
Jo is a confident young girl and initiates the conversation at the start of this picture book. She asks her mum if they can go shopping; to spend the money she has been saving. Her mum agrees, as she has to “post this parcel to granny”. Jo’s dad decides to stay at home and make the family lunch. The family say a friendly goodbye and even the family dog Patch gets a pat as Jo and her mum leave to go shopping.
As a child, this was one of my favourite books to read in primary school. The main attraction was that the family are ethnically diverse. Jo is a young brown skinned girl with afro puffed pigtails. Jo’s mum is of similar skin tone and wears braids styled with blue beads. Jo’s dad has blonde hair and fair skin. The book stays true to its style with bright illustrations of Jo’s culturally diverse local community, which was very similar to my own.
As well as the community in the book being familiar, the universal everyday activities shown in this book make it an appealing choice for Key Stage 1. As the story progressed this becomes more evident. For instance whilst out shopping Jo and her mum stop to speak with the local shop owners: Mrs Tomaselli the baker, Mr Singh the green grocer and Mrs Brown at the fish shop. As they stop Jo keeps the children in suspense on how she will spend her money. She contemplates spending her money at each shop; first on cakes, then apples and fish. Jo thinks about each purchase, before deciding to “wait and see.”
Jo’s mum realises she has forgotten her money, when they arrive at the post office. Jo shows an example of generosity and offers to pay for the cost of sending Grandmas birthday card and present. Jo’s mum praises her to Mrs Tomaselli, Mr Singh and Mrs Brown. As a reward she receives gifts of a fish, apples and cakes for her kind act. When Jo arrives home she learns that Patch the dog has eaten the families’ lunch. The book ends with Jo’s dad worrying about what the family will have to eat. Jo tells her dad she has a surprise but he will “have to wait and see.”
This picture book is aimed at Key Stage 1 and can be used for a variety of subject material such problem solving, the importance of looking after money, cultural diversity, celebrating difference and everyday experiences such as family life and shopping. The repetition of the phrase ‘I’ll wait and see’ can be used for English. For example placing words in correct order to form a sentence or to explain how we can create excitement within a story. The explicitly clear way that Tony Bradman expresses the messages in this picture book combined with Eileen Brown’s creative art work, allow this book to be used with great flexibility. The use of the follow up picture book Through the Window by the same author and illustrator can create a feeling of familiarity with children.
Jo is a confident young girl and initiates the conversation at the start of this picture book. She asks her mum if they can go shopping; to spend the money she has been saving. Her mum agrees, as she has to “post this parcel to granny”. Jo’s dad decides to stay at home and make the family lunch. The family say a friendly goodbye and even the family dog Patch gets a pat as Jo and her mum leave to go shopping.
As a child, this was one of my favourite books to read in primary school. The main attraction was that the family are ethnically diverse. Jo is a young brown skinned girl with afro puffed pigtails. Jo’s mum is of similar skin tone and wears braids styled with blue beads. Jo’s dad has blonde hair and fair skin. The book stays true to its style with bright illustrations of Jo’s culturally diverse local community, which was very similar to my own.
As well as the community in the book being familiar, the universal everyday activities shown in this book make it an appealing choice for Key Stage 1. As the story progressed this becomes more evident. For instance whilst out shopping Jo and her mum stop to speak with the local shop owners: Mrs Tomaselli the baker, Mr Singh the green grocer and Mrs Brown at the fish shop. As they stop Jo keeps the children in suspense on how she will spend her money. She contemplates spending her money at each shop; first on cakes, then apples and fish. Jo thinks about each purchase, before deciding to “wait and see.”
Jo’s mum realises she has forgotten her money, when they arrive at the post office. Jo shows an example of generosity and offers to pay for the cost of sending Grandmas birthday card and present. Jo’s mum praises her to Mrs Tomaselli, Mr Singh and Mrs Brown. As a reward she receives gifts of a fish, apples and cakes for her kind act. When Jo arrives home she learns that Patch the dog has eaten the families’ lunch. The book ends with Jo’s dad worrying about what the family will have to eat. Jo tells her dad she has a surprise but he will “have to wait and see.”
This picture book is aimed at Key Stage 1 and can be used for a variety of subject material such problem solving, the importance of looking after money, cultural diversity, celebrating difference and everyday experiences such as family life and shopping. The repetition of the phrase ‘I’ll wait and see’ can be used for English. For example placing words in correct order to form a sentence or to explain how we can create excitement within a story. The explicitly clear way that Tony Bradman expresses the messages in this picture book combined with Eileen Brown’s creative art work, allow this book to be used with great flexibility. The use of the follow up picture book Through the Window by the same author and illustrator can create a feeling of familiarity with children.
September 10, 2014
Wait and See!
Wait and See is about a little girl who goes shopping with her mother, while her dad stays at home to make them lunch. Jo (the little girl) has money to spend, but as she passes a huge variety of market stalls on the way to the post office, she thinks of all the other wonderful things she might spend her money on.
This story explores the multicultural society we live in as it depicts people from different ages, races and ethnic backgrounds. It also teaches us about how we should treat one another and that kindness goes along way and often enough if you treat people kindly they will respond in the same way. Jo express this at a very young age by giving her mother her own pocket money to send grandmas birthday present, because her mother had forgotten her money at home. The adults were impressed by her kindness and all the shop keepers who she had passed on her way to the post office gave her an item for her kindness. The items were a form of praise, which we see in our schools, children are not only praised for their efforts in achieving, but also how they treat their peers and teachers. This story appeals to younger children seeking their first experiences of independent reading.
Wait and See is about a little girl who goes shopping with her mother, while her dad stays at home to make them lunch. Jo (the little girl) has money to spend, but as she passes a huge variety of market stalls on the way to the post office, she thinks of all the other wonderful things she might spend her money on.
This story explores the multicultural society we live in as it depicts people from different ages, races and ethnic backgrounds. It also teaches us about how we should treat one another and that kindness goes along way and often enough if you treat people kindly they will respond in the same way. Jo express this at a very young age by giving her mother her own pocket money to send grandmas birthday present, because her mother had forgotten her money at home. The adults were impressed by her kindness and all the shop keepers who she had passed on her way to the post office gave her an item for her kindness. The items were a form of praise, which we see in our schools, children are not only praised for their efforts in achieving, but also how they treat their peers and teachers. This story appeals to younger children seeking their first experiences of independent reading.
March 6, 2016
I liked that you can see the father making lunch in a round frame as you follow the story of Jo and her mother. The repeating pattern in the story (Jo wondering if she should spend her pocketmoney on this item, but deciding to wait and see), has the potential to teach reading lessons and engage the reader in guessing what comes next.
May 13, 2013
What a lovely story! Also love the fact that its a mixed race couple with the mum being black and the dad white. Something my little family could relate to :)
October 5, 2015
A story line is very educational and nice, I loved the take home message of this book and pictures were fantastic too.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews