Waiting for Baby

by Harriet Ziefert, Emily Bolam (Illustrator)

Max does everything he can think of to encourage his new sibling to be born. He talks to his mommy's tummy, sings to it, plays his drum for it, but nothing seems to work. Max is convinced that this baby will never arrive ... until the day finally comes when Daddy takes Mommy to the hospital.

Harriet Ziefert has written a delightful story about the anticipation of a new arrival. Expectant parents will want to read it with their children, and soon-to-be older siblings are sure to identify with Max. Best of all, there's a gift in the back of the book for the big brother or sister to give to the new a nursery door hanger with two important "Shhhh! Baby sleeping" and "Come in! Baby awake."

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

36 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1998

About the author

Harriet Ziefert grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey, where she attended the local schools. She graduated from Smith College, then received a Masters degree in Education from New York University.

For many years, Ziefert was an elementary school teacher. She taught most grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. "I liked it," she said, but she stopped teaching when she had her own sons. When her children were older, Ziefert wanted "a bigger arena" for her work. She went to work at a publishing company, Scholastic in New York City, developing materials for teacher's guides for kindergarten language arts and social studies programs.

"About twelve years ago," says Ziefert in a 1995 interview, "I tried to get a job as an editor, but no one would hire me as a trade editor. So I decided to write my own books." Since then, she has written several hundred books, mostly picture books and easy-to-read books. "I write books very quickly," she says, "in about twelve hours. I rewrite them three times over three days, and then they're done." She writes about twenty books a year.

Reviews

[Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I connected to this book because I remember it was hard waiting for my younger siblings to arrive because I never knew when they were actually going to be born. Because of this, I really connected to the little boy in the story and how he just wants his sibling to be born.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

As his mother's due date nears, Max gets impatient for the arrival of his new sibling. The story ends with Max meeting his new baby sister, but scenes from the family's first year with the baby are on the endpapers.

[Molly (Conan the Librarian) Crumbley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely cute story about a boy named Max, who is waiting impatiently for his new sibling to arrive. The illustrations are bright and fun, Max is a winning character, and I love the way that the story unfolds. Unlike many other books for kids, which tend to be what-to-expect guides, this one is completely about Max and how he feels about becoming a brother. A sweet bonus is the little present for the new baby in the back of the book, a little door hanger for the nursery.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic view of a child who is old enough to understand that his mother is pregnant, and young enough to have questions and feel like the pregnancy lasts too long. ("Hey, baby, what are you doing in there? It's time to come out.")

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little M sang Rum Tum Tum, baby come over and over this past week. Not a lot of substance in the book but kinda catchy.

[Leo and Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

read summer 2014

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but not very substantial.