Waiting for Iced Tea
A warm picture book about patience, family, and learning that the sweetest things in life are the ones worth waiting for
Charlotte wants to be patient. She really does. But on a stifling Maryland morning when her t-shirt feels like a hot, heavy blanket, all she can think about is Nana's cold, sweet, lemony, real iced tea. And there are so many steps to Nana's secret recipe. Steeping, sugaring, cooling, and baking muffins to go with it. Nana tells her to find something useful to do while she waits, so Charlotte sweeps, and swings, and snaps pillowcases on the line. But the iced tea is still not ready.
As the day stretches on, something unexpected happens. Charlotte stops wishing for the time away and starts noticing the small, beautiful moments hidden inside the waiting. Waiting for Iced Tea is for every child who has ever asked "is it ready yet?" and every grown-up who has wished they could bottle a slow summer afternoon with someone they love. This is a story about patience, presence, and the quiet magic of spending an unhurried day with the person who matters most. Includes a Reader's Note for adults on helping kids learn how to wait and a secret recipe to try at home.
Key features:
- teaches patience through a relatable story: Charlotte's struggle to wait is so real that children will laugh in recognition while absorbing a lasting lesson about slowing down
- celebrates the grandparent-grandchild bond: captures the warmth and love of a day spent with Nana in beautiful detail that grandparents and grandchildren will both treasure
- a secret recipe to make together: includes Nana's iced tea recipe so families can recreate the experience at home and practice the joy of waiting together
- includes a Reader's Note for adults: offers guidance on helping children develop patience, tolerate waiting, and find enjoyment in slower moments
- trusted publisher: from Magination Press, the children’s imprint of APA, dedicated to emotional well-being and healthy development
Karen Gebbia is a children's book writer and naturalist based in California. Before writing for children, Karen spent two decades writing, publishing, editing, and teaching scholarly writing. Visit her website.opens in new window
Mette Engell is a Danish children's illustrator with a master's degree in biology and a lifelong love of storytelling. She creates painterly, narrative illustrations that highlight atmosphere, character, and quiet emotional moments. She lives by the ocean in Denmark. Visit her on Instagram.opens in new window
