Today, Maybe

by Dominique Demers, Priscilla Holbrook (Reading), Gabrielle Grimard (Illustrations)

Today, Maybe is a story about a little girl who is waiting for someone, a friend. She doesn't yet know who it will be. In a series of surprising and humorous encounters, several well-known characters of children's literature arrive at her door. But none of them are the one she is waiting for, and she graciously sends them all away. With her bird to keep her company and hope filling her heart, weeks and then months pass as she waits and waits. When there is a scratch at the door one night, certainty fills the little girl's heart, and she opens the door to discover true friendship is indeed worth waiting for.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dominique Demers est une docteure en littérature jeunesse, une auteure et une scénariste qui habite au Québec depuis plusieurs années. Elle est surtout connue pour les romans jeunesse qu'elle écrit depuis plusieurs années.

Elle possède un baccalauréat en art de l'Université McGill. Elle obtient par après un certificat en enseignement à l'Université de Montréal, qu'elle fera suivre d'une maîtrise en littérature jeunesse à l'Université du Québec à Montréal. Elle complète avec un doctorat en littérature jeunesse à l'Université de Sherbrooke en 1994.

Pendant douze ans, elle est journaliste pour le magazine Châtelaine et le magazine l'Actualité, tout comme elle écrit pour le journal le Devoir. Elle a aussi produit différents documents pour la télévision et la radio.

Pendant quinze ans, elle a enseigné la littérature jeunesse à l'Université du Québec à Montréal, ainsi qu'à l'Université de Sherbrooke.

Les romans de la série jeunesse Charlotte ont servi à élaborer les scénarios des films La Mystérieuse mademoiselle C. et l'Incomparable Mademoiselle C. Par ailleurs, en 2005, elle met en scénario Un hiver de tourmente pour un feuilleton télévisé.

Reviews

[Angelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, but the story falls short.

[Jeanette Morehouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I absolutely loathed this book ...it irked me so much that I hesitated to share it with my class of kindergarteners.
Firstly, why did the little girl need to stop growing up in order to wait for someone, would she not be as lovable as an adult?
Secondly, she has a true friend who sticks by her the whole time yet is never acknowledged - the long-suffering bird.
Thirdly, as my kindergarten students are well aware, friendships develop through effort, getting to know one another, kindness, not by hoping that some perfect person/bear will come along one day and fill the void in your life.
The little girl missed opportunities to make other friends and live a wonderful life, while waiting for the perfect friend..... dreadful, dreadful idea!
I would love to know what the author was trying to get across in this book?

[Grace Kramer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly I was a little confused by this book. I felt that it was hard for me to find the theme of this children's book, and if it was difficult for me then I assume it would be hard for children to as well. The biggest message I got from this book was a theme of loneliness, but how there is a friend for everyone. I feel that this message is more for adults when adults manage to find who their real friends are as they get older. As young children, I feel that this is not as prevalent as an issue. I also felt that the text was hard to read as the font was very small, yet had long paragraphs on a few pages which may be hard for a children to hold attention to.

[Whitney Pittsenbarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

very sweet, beautiful pictures and a warm and fuzzy ending

[Manuela Pardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro bello. Resaltar principalmente la ilustración que tiene incluso más fuerza que el relato mismo. Una historia sobre la espera y el amor.

[Lokita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous artwork for a sweet little fable about faith, patience, and not settling. Too bad my niece is too old for this book. She would have loved it when she was small.

[Ponytaorponyboy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids enjoyed this album? Though I guess, upon the first read, I wondered what kind of message that was? It couldn't possibly have been the sooooo very redundant love at first sight or something, right? Because it's a bear... unless... are we talking about beastiality.



what have I read to the childreN?!

I'm kidding, it's probably something like, friends who are worth it are worth waiting for, but then, I feel like... you have to go through your fair share of bad friends in order to know who's good and who's bad, whether you're gonna be compatible as friends or no, right?

...maybe it's just me overthinking things, like I usually do... *cough* Okay I'll stop now.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this mysterious picture book! If I still belonged to a book club, I would recommend this (for all the people who have a hard time finishing a novel during their busy lives) and listen to how they interpret it. At first I thought, oh hell no, she is NOT waiting for some man to come into her life, is she? And then when a prince comes (among several other visitors over the course of a long time), she tells him she can't marry him because she is waiting for someone. Love it. A bear would be worth the wait, but why did he have to go around the world 3 times to find her? Discuss.

[Eileen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, Maybe is a story about a little girl who is waiting for a friend. Even though she does not know who that friend will be she patiently waits. As days go by a variety of characters come by to "steal" her away but she always has a reason that she can't leave. Each of the characters that she encounters are familiar to those who have ever read children's stories. Finally at the end of the story her friend arrives.

This is a beautiful illustrated book that will keep all the readers intrigued as they listen or read this story.

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story as a girl waits for someone, not knowing who it is, but knowing who it isn't as other visitors arrive. The end is a bit saccharine, but it fits with the sweetness of the story and illustrations.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated quirky story of a young girl who lives in the woods alone surviving on jam and bread waiting for the day that "he will come." She does not know who this "he" is but she is sure she has been waiting for his arrival for a long time.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the kids were a little confused with this story, but it was a nice folktale-esque book for storytelling. I especially loved the message at the end, "True friendships are worth waiting for", which is so, so true. So kids, don't be worried if you haven't found a true best friend yet!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cute but I think I am missing something. . . .

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Folkloric in feel, this is the story of an intrepid little girl willing to wait for what she wants. A nice concept.

[Jessie Jury · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated, but bizarre ending... Not really sure how I feel about it.

[Dorathea Chaplin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't entirely understand it right now, but it's cute and I like how unwavering and unbullied the girl is.

[Tammy Blackwell]

Wait. What? Can someone please explain this book to me?

[Sarah]

I really wish someone would explain this picture book to me. What does the bear represent??