Waiting-for is the informal name for a trilogy of children's books by Connecticut author Bethany Roberts—Waiting-for-Spring Stories, Waiting-for-Papa Stories, and Waiting-for-Christmas Stories—published between 1984 and 1994. In each book, rabbit parents tell a series of miniature stories about the titular topics. The first and third installments were Roberts' earliest manuscripts; Waiting-for-Spring Stories was originally intended as a one-shot title, and was also one of the earliest stints for Louisiana-based illustrator William Joyce. Sarah Stapler of Maine took over Joyce's role for the other two titles.
Waiting-for-Spring and Waiting-for-Papa were respectively published by Harper & Row in 1984 and 1990, while Houghton Mifflin's Clarion Books imprint handled the release of 1994's Waiting-for-Christmas. The series was well-acclaimed during its original print run, with the illustrations receiving comparisons to the works of Beatrix Potter and similar artists.
The first title in the Waiting-for series, Waiting-for-Spring Stories, was published by Harper & Row in September 1984.[3] It contains seven miniature stories of 2–3 pages' length[3] told by a father rabbit to his children during the winter season.[6]
The second installment in the series, Waiting-for-Papa Stories, was published in March 1990 by Harper & Row.[4]
Papa Rabbit, the father narrator from Waiting-for-Spring Stories,[6] is running late on his way home. While his family waits for him, his wife Mama Rabbit decides to tell her children a new set of seven miniature stories—all featuring him—to assuage their worries.[4][8][9]
The final title, Waiting-for-Christmas Stories, was published in 1994 by Houghton Mifflin's Clarion Books imprint;[5] Papa Rabbit returns with a new round of tales set during the holidays.[10]
Background
Originally intended as a one-shot title, Waiting-for-Spring Stories was the first book by Bethany Roberts to see publication. A companion manuscript written around the time of Spring's release became the trilogy's last installment, Waiting-for-Christmas Stories, in 1994.[5] Louisiana-based William Joyce illustrated Spring in one of his earliest stints;[1] Sarah Stapler, an artist from Bowdoinham, Maine, replaced him for Papa and Christmas.[2]
Reviewing Papa for SLJ, Louise L. Sherman declared that "Children are sure to be captivated by the charm and gentle humor of the stories", and also took note of the change in illustrators between instalments: "Stapler's illustrations suit the stories well. Her rabbits inhabit a brighter and more elaborate home than William Joyce's rustic settings of the earlier book."[4] The Bronx publication Wilson Library Bulletin said, "The simplicity [of Mama Rabbit's tales] adds to their aura of freshness and self-completeness."[13]
Under the Clarion imprint, Roberts would later write more books about animals celebrating holidays and observances via what became the Holiday Mice series, with Doug Cushman as the illustrator.[14][15] The first title, Halloween Mice!, was announced in December 1994[16] and published in August 1995.[17]
^Richard, Olga; MacCann, Donnarae (September 1990). "Picture Books for Children -- Emily and the Enchanted Frog by Helen Griffith and illustrated by Susan Condie Lamb / Waiting-For-Papa Stories by Bethany Roberts and illustrated by Sarah Stapler / and others". Wilson Library Bulletin. 65 (1). H.W. Wilson Company: 96. ISSN0043-5651. ProQuest234936721. Quoted in Kumar, Lisa, ed. (2010). "Roberts, Bethany 1949–". Something About the Author. Vol. 202. Gale Research. p. 154. ISBN978-1-4144-3499-5. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
