A day spent running errands with Mom is a day filled with many small moments of waiting for two girls, starting before they even leave the house. “Boots and backpack. Lucky hat. Beaded bangles. Satchel Cat. Phone and wallet. Missing bag. While we wait, we chase and tag.” The brisk, rhyming text gains momentum as the trio is out and about, and the children must wait in line at the post office, wait while their mom chats with a friend, and wait for their food at the diner. Although usually able to find something to keep them busy, the wait at the diner asks too much, and the girls fall apart. Back home, they wait through Mom’s phone calls for dinner until finally in bed, they fall asleep, still waiting. Observant readers will notice that the ultimate wait is for Dad, whose “Be back soon” sticky note on the refrigerator is pictured on both opening and closing endpapers.

From the best-selling author of What Can a Mess Make? comes a charming picture book about a brother and sister who discover the unexpected delights of life's in-between moments while running errands with their mother.

With joyful rhymes and gorgeous illustrations, this book invites readers to discover beauty in patience and cherish the opportunity of boredom.

Thunder rumbles.
Clouds hang low.
No umbrella!
Where to go?

Speckled sidewalk.
Stormy weather.
While we wait,
we squeeze together.

Filled with the highs and lows of a long day out, this story gently reminds us of the joy in simple moments spent together.