Waiting for the Sun (Northern Lights Books for Children)

Each summer day Mollie wakes up, waits for the prairie sun to rise, and hopes that today the baby will be born. Sometimes while she waits, she feels the baby moving inside her mother's tummy and whispers, "Good morning." But it's hard to wait. Waiting for the baby is like waiting for the sun to come up in the morning - it takes its own sweet time. Mollie plans all the things she'll share with the new baby - tadpoles in the stream, clucking chickens, books from the library - but still the baby does not come!

Grandma decides she'll stay overnight to help Mollie pass the time. Finally, in the middle of the night, the baby arrives - a brother! Mollie's parents call him Benjamin. Mollie races to see the baby. His eyes are squeezed shut. His face is wrinkled and red.

"He's ugly!" she announces.

But the she holds her new brother, and he opens his eyes and looks right at her. Mollie can't help but smile. Together, they watch the sun come up, and Mollie decides this is quite enough for now.

Awards and Nominations:

• Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Nomination
• Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Citation
• Shining Willow Award Nomination
• IBBY Canada Outstanding Canadian Picture Book 2000-2003