Dickens & Rumi
Cover of WAITING IS NOT EASY!

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WAITING IS NOT EASY!

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Mo Willems

Is WAITING IS NOT EASY! appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Impatient Gerald has to wait for Piggie’s promised surprise. (Ages 2 to 7)

Ages 3+Book 22 · An Elephant and Piggie BookSource checked

Why this age? Simple text, repetitive dialogue, and cartoon illustrations suit preschoolers; the emotional focus is gentle and accessible, with no meaningful mature content. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Where to get it

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 3+
Strongest cautionsStrong language 1/5
Strongest positivesGood role models 4/5 · Kindness & empathy 4/5
Series positionBook 22 · An Elephant and Piggie Book
Recommendation3.8/5

Good role models; strongest caution: strong language.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Simple text, repetitive dialogue, and cartoon illustrations suit preschoolers; the emotional focus is gentle and accessible, with no meaningful mature content. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Good role models; strongest caution: strong language.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 3+Main watch-out: Strong language 1/5
Recommendation 3.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
8Scored categories
8Evidence notes
1Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 30, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

Review depth8 scored categories8 evidence notes
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Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age3+

Strongest cautions

  • Strong language1/5

Strongest positives

  • Good role models4/5
  • Kindness & empathy4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 23 · I WILL TAKE A NAP!Strongest cautions: Strong language 1/5Open next review →
  1. Starting point
  2. About the same
  3. About the same
  4. About the same
  5. Book 5 · I Love My New Toy!
    Products & advertising1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  6. About the same
  7. About the same
  8. About the same
  9. About the same
  10. Book 10 · PIGS MAKE ME SNEEZE!
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  11. Gets gentler
  12. About the same
  13. Book 13 · WE ARE IN A BOOK!Ages 3+
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  14. Book 14 · I BROKE MY TRUNK!
    Frightening scenes1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  15. Gets gentler
  16. About the same
  17. About the same
  18. About the same
  19. Book 19 · A BIG GUY TOOK MY BALL!
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets more intense
  20. Gets gentler
  21. Book 21 · MY NEW FRIEND IS SO FUN!Ages 4+
    Strong language1/5
    About the same
  22. Book 22 · WAITING IS NOT EASY!Ages 3+
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  23. About the same
  24. Book 24 · I REALLY LIKE SLOP!Ages 3+
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  25. Book 25 · THE THANK YOU BOOKAges 3+
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than WAITING IS NOT EASY!. Open each review for the details.

What’s in it?

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Language is very simple and child-friendly.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Frightening scenes · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience1/5
Why this rating?

Gerald shows emotional courage by expressing his difficult feelings.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

The minimalist art and dialogue spark engagement and interpretation.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Helps children identify and manage big emotions like frustration.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Piggie's patience with Gerald is a central act of kindness.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strong positive message about patience, understanding, and the value of true friendship.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

The characters exhibit relatable emotions and resolve conflict through support and kindness.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. Which character was the best role model, and what did they do that you admired?
  2. Why do you think the characters used the language they did? Did it change how you saw them?
  3. Which choice in WAITING IS NOT EASY! would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in WAITING IS NOT EASY!, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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