Review: Waiting for the Magic

WAITING FOR THE MAGIC by Patricia MacLachlan
Published: 9/30/2011
Published by: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

I'm so excited about our Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List for 2013-2014! The list is full of good titles--which makes it a great source for summer reading.

One of the titles on this amazing list is WAITING FOR THE MAGIC by Patricia MacLachlan. In my opinion, Patricia MacLachlan wrote the most perfect sentences in SARAH PLAIN TALL (winner of the Newbery Medal in 1986), and I love rereading this book every year. (With each new group of students, I do my best to make sure this book gains new fans!)

WAITING FOR THE MAGIC is also about a family going through a tough time (just like Sarah Plain and Tall). In this book, Papa has left his family to go off to write, and in the transition, Mama takes the kids to adopt a pet, but comes home with more than one. As the children adapt without Papa, the pet(s) help the family with the sadness, acceptance and rebuilding that happens. The children are adorable, and you grow to love every pet, too. There IS magic in this book, and there is lots of love, too.  Families with love create magic every day!

Does Papa return? What is the magic? How does love bind a family together? You must read this book to find out!

I can't wait to recommend this book to my students -- present and future!

Have you read this book? What other Patricia MacLachlan books do you recommend?