Marcie Atkins introduces the slow side of Nature's wonder - hibernation and other forms of dormancy. During periods of cold, Atkins reveals how animals, trees and even insects enter winter waiting for the warmth of spring.

Detailed photographs and a broad swath of subject matter enrich this book, highlighted by lyrical language and poetic phrases. Including definitions on types of dormancy and a bibliography for further exploration of the subject, this makes a great resources for classroom, library or home readings.

With stunning photos and lyrical text, this is the perfect book to introduce kids to the different states of torpor that nature sometimes undergoes. Author Marcie Atkins has written a beautiful book that is a valuable addition to any library.

Even though this book about dormancy is for young readers, I learned a few things (since this book examines much more than mere hibernation). I highly recommend it!

Charming book for children and adults alike! For children, I could see using this as a night time story. It has a very "lulling" quality.

*Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wait, Rest, Pause by Marcie Flinchum Atkins is a charming little book that teaches kids about dormancy and how different animals (and plants!) handle it. The language is very poetic, and the photos are gorgeous. At the end, each type of dormancy is explained in further detail. There's also a suggested reading section. A great teaching tool for classrooms, or the perfect gift for nature-loving kids.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Lerner Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This nonfiction picture book explores hibernation and other forms of dormancy in cold weather. The book looks not only at animals, but at trees as they enter their own dormant winter period. Ladybugs gather together for warmth and pause until spring. Ground squirrels hibernate, shivering for hours to keep warm. Chickadees slow their hearts and pause on cold nights until the next day. Alligators sink into the mud. Earthworms go dormant during a drought until water returns. Then when water or warmth comes back, everyone returns to full life once again.

The breadth of subject matter here is impressive and makes the book far more fascinating than just being about hibernation. The writing is poetic with recurring phrases that call for the dormant species to pause… and the reader will naturally do the same. Each creature is approached in a similar way, making for a book that reads well aloud and also creating a cohesiveness that this broad a subject requires. The book ends with definitions of different types of dormancy and a bibliography for further exploration of the subject. The photographs in the book come from collections such as Getty Images and stock photos. They work well here, offering glimpses of the species dormant as well as active.

An interesting science book that will share well with a group. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!


My kids loved this book. the photography is amazing!!

"Wait, Rest, Pause," by Marcie Flinchum Atkins is a cute non-fiction story for kids about the winter and how plants and animals go dormant to survive during the cold months and then spring back to life as the sun returns. The book includes many beautiful pictures of trees, animals, birds and their methods of dormancy to remain alive.

There is an informative glossary for kids at the back of the book regarding the different types of dormancy that different types of plants and animals experience.

I received this eBook free of charge from Lerner Publishing Group - Millbrook Press via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I'm not a huge fan of rhyming text in a picture book, so that didn't really work for me. But the appendix of scientific information about hibernation is fantastic.

Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins is a non fiction picturebook. It is full of beautiful photos of animals accompanied by text about dormancy in nature. Featuring creatures like ladybugs, chickadees, squirrels, and even alligators, this book should not put curious kids to sleep!

Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature exceeded my expectation with the images used. The photographs were absolutely wonderful, and worth looking through the book for. I was also very excited by the additional information about types of dormancy, and suggestions for further reading- both with books and online. However, the heart of the book felt flat for me. The images were wonderful, and the placement and varied fonts for the text were very visually engaging. I found the text itself to be a little clunky, not that I expect or want all books for children to rhyme, but there should be a comfortable cadence for reading aloud. I liked the intent of the book, and think the design was great, but the book just did not match my high expectations.

Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy in Nature is visually stunning, and has great endpages information, but did not wow me as a whole.

This is a rather charming book, supposedly for young readers, but I think adults would quite like it as well. I mean, who knew ladybugs lived through the winter?? Or that worms knotted themselves up in dormancy? I didn’t.

There are really interesting photographs to look at, and a lulling repetitiveness to the simple words much like Goodnight Moon. The blurb says it won’t put you to sleep, and while I agree the book will hold your attention, a young child reading this before bed could go to sleep with some very fuzzy, happy dreams. And everyone will learn something!

Thank you to NetGalley and Millbrook Press for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I think the book is great for adults, amazing for kids, and a must-have for libraries.

This may be for fourth graders, but there is also an unspoken hope lesson for all humans here. It says ‘you’re okay’ even if you slow down, curl up in a comfy ball and chill out. It’s part of nature’s design.

I find that most nonfiction books for kids are, well, boring. Marcie Flinchum Atkins happily breaks this mold with "Wait, Rest, Pause", her children's book about dormancy in natures. With simple but informative text arranged appealing on the page, she teaches about how everything from chickadees to trees to alligators survive through the winter into spring. My favorite part was the breathtaking photos! A fun book for anyone from toddlers to preschoolers (they won't even realize how much they're learning!).

A very nicely done book to introduce dormancy to young children. The photos and lyrical text blend very well. A welcome addition to the classroom library or home.

Beautiful, clear, colorful, close up photographs and poetic text explain what dormancy means for animals and plants. Back matter includes a discussion of dormancy differences among living things and suggestions for further reading. A great find for young nature lovers. There are so many great examples to illustrate and explain a concept.