Waiting For The Sun

Waiting for the baby is like waiting for the sun to come up - it takes its own sweet time!

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

Alison Lohans is the author of over 12 published books. Nine of these have appeared on the Canadian Children''s Book Centre "Our Choice" List; two won Young Readers'' Choice awards, and 10 have been short-listed for various other awards. Alison has recently been serving as Writer-in-Residence at Regina Public Library. She is active in numerous writing organizations, and also enjoys time with her family. Her favourite leisure activity is playing her cello.

Marilyn Mets has been working in Toronto as an illustrator, art director and graphic designer for over 25 years. She has illustrated and collaborated on numerous children''s books, winning many awards and nominations including being nominated for the Amelia Frances Gibbons Award for Illustration in 1998 for Cameron and Me.

Peter Ledwon has worked as a commercial photographer, illustrator, graphic designer, and art director for the past 15 years. He gained formal training in photography at Ryerson University. In addition, he holds science degrees in physiology and biochemistry from U.B.C. Peter also writes for both magazines and newsletters targeted at the adult market.