Pajama Press

Will Liam’s baby sister ever grow up into a proper playmate?

Waiting is hard. Liam waited through half of kindergarten for his baby sister to be born. Then, when little Sophie finally comes home, he discovers she won’t be ready to play with him for a long, long time. As the months pass, everyone says that Liam is Sophie’s favorite. He is the best at making her laugh and burp, but laughing and burping are not enough for Liam. With the help of Nana-Downstairs, he designs and builds a Get Older Faster Machine. It doesn’t seem to work on Sophie, but maybe Sophie is not the only one doing some growing up.

In Waiting for Sophie, multi-award-winning author Sarah Ellis introduces a warm, funny, down-to-earth family gracefully navigating a time of change together. Illustrator Carmen Mok renders them sweetly in approachable color illustrations. Appealingly packaged in a hardcover book with a reinforced binding, Liam’s trials, mishaps, and triumphs will speak to young readers who are making the transition to chapter books.

Available for review on NetGalley!

Awards & Honours:
2017 Best Books for Kids & Teens selection

Reviews:
“[A] down-to-earth, sweet but never mushy story. The accompanying illustrations have a simple, gentle quality that neatly matches the story. The hand-printing-style type used for the text also complements the story and is easy for readers entering the world of early chapter books to decode. Warmth and quiet humor capture the realities of a new baby in the house.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This early chapter book offers a relatable story for intermediate readers, who will empathize with the frustrations of waiting for a younger sibling to become old enough to be a playmate. Cartoonish character illustrations on most pages enhance the text. VERDICT A sweet and tender addition for libraries looking for more new sibling materials or titles about patience.”—School Library Journal

“[A] sweet and relatable story…”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] beautifully written chapter book about the relationship between Liam and his new baby sister Sophie….The illustrations are colourful and filled with lots of detail which adds to the narrative….This is a gentle story which will definitely appeal to young readers with siblings, as well as the adults who care for them!”—Resource Links

“Ellis’ trademark wry humour comes into play almost immediately…Carmen Mok, who has many picturebook and magazine credits to her name, has graced the pages with some charming digitally-created art with the look of watercolours…Waiting for Sophie is a fine addition to library collections, especially those requiring more easy novels with contemporary themes. Highly Recommended.”—CM Magazine

“[A] sweet story that will help youngsters understand the process of becoming an older sibling and how much patience is needed.”—City Book Review

“[A]n original and heartwarming story”—Midwest Book Review

“[I]deal for a young reader who is transitioning to reading chapter books. Full of child-like imagination and silliness…[T]his book would be especially relatable to a soon-to-be big brother or sister…”—Brigham Young University, Children’s Book & Media Reviews

“A cute story that teaches children about patience….Sarah Ellis has a way with words; I would read more books by her.”—The Bookshelf Corner

“Sarah Ellis gives Liam a voice that is so filled with hope about his new sister and the promise of having a familial playmate that even his frustrations are natural and unfeigned.…And, although Waiting for Sophie is an early reader, rather than a picture book, the illustrations by Carmen Mok augment Sarah Ellis’ story with the innocence and family that the author’s words already convey. Young children being challenged to read their first chapter books will appreciate this early reader as it will undoubtedly speak to them.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians

“Sarah Ellis tells another timeless story with beautifully chosen text and Carmen Mok matches the tone of the story perfectly with gentle images and soft colors.”—Sal’s Fiction Addiction

“This easy chapter book is full of spunk and warmth.”—Orange Marmalade, “Super Sisters and Brilliant Brothers”

“Waiting for Sophie is a great older sibling book for younger school-age kids. Sarah Ellis not only captures the excitement of waiting for a new baby brother or sister, but also gives voice to the little frustrations kids can experience when dealing with a new baby in the house, and the desire to have a playmate their age.”—Mom Read It

“This book for early readers is charming….I liked the big brother, big sister story…[and] how the adults didn’t fit stereotypes. The drawings are simple, but engaging, and show the emotions of the different characters vividly….I also thought the endpapers were a neat touch, covered with pictures of hand tools.”—Canadian Bookworm