Review - When the World Was Waiting for You

When the World Was Waiting for You
by Gillian Shields
illustrated by Anna Currey
Date: 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

The Rabbit family is filled with excitement - because soon a new baby will arrive! And they can't wait to meet it.

The nursery has been decorated, toys and gifts have been bought, and finally the big day arrives...

A touching story about the special bond between parents and their children.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Call me cynical, but that title makes me think this book should have the subtitle, "or, How to Inflate Your Child's Ego From Day One". Let's be honest here. The "world" isn't waiting for each new baby. The family is, yes. I guess When We Were Waiting for You doesn't have quite the same ring to it, though.

I'm also confused as to why the illustrator chose to go with rabbits when the mom pops out a single kid. Rabbits are known for... well, breeding like rabbits. Isn't the average litter size around six bunnies? Why does this family have so few children? (Inquiring minds want to know.)

The illustrations are adorable, though, and show the family getting ready for the new arrival. You can tell that this bunny is going to be very loved. The rhyming text is also pretty good, and the meter didn't really trip me up.

I think maybe this is just a case of an unfortunate title. Or maybe I'm feeling a little jaded because I just read another picture book that pinned all the hopes and dreams of the parents on a poor little baby. This particular book doesn't make me feel nearly as wary, though, as it's simply an appreciation of a brand new life without the undercurrent of expectations.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5