Description

When Will I Grow Up?

Bunty is always waiting—waiting to ride a bike, waiting to shoot a basketball, waiting to eat his favourite food. Every time he asks, the answer is the same: “When the time comes.”
But to Bunty, that feels like a riddle with no answer. What is this TIME everyone talks about? Where does it hide, and when will it finally show up?

Through his questions and little adventures, Bunty begins to understand something tender and true: time doesn’t rush—it unfolds. And sometimes, the waiting makes the moment even more special when it arrives.

Why Should a Child Read This Book?

Because every child asks some version of this question—When will it happen? When will it be my turn? When will I be big?
This story gives children a gentle, relatable way to make peace with waiting, without scolding them for being impatient. It helps them name the feeling, sit with it, and discover that growing up isn’t a switch—it’s a series of small, meaningful “almost there” moments.

Perfect for:

• children who feel restless or “in a hurry”
• classrooms working on routines and patience
• parents navigating daily “when” questions (birthdays, outings, milestones)

What Are the Learnings?

• Patience & emotional regulation: recognising impatience and learning ways to cope with waiting.
• Understanding time (age-appropriate): the idea that time is not something we can grab—yet it still moves and brings change.
• Growth mindset: skills and milestones come with practice, readiness, and repetition.
• Mindfulness: noticing the present moment instead of only chasing the next one.
• Language development: vocabulary for feelings, questions, and reflective thinking (why/when/how).

How to Use This Picture Book?

For parents (at home)

• Read it at bedtime on days your child is “waiting for something” (a trip, a treat, a playdate).
• Pause and ask:
  • “What is Bunty waiting for right now?”
  • “What do you wait for?”
  • “What helps you when waiting feels long?”
• Create a simple “When the time comes” jar: slips of paper with small things your child can do while waiting (draw, breathe, stretch, read, help).

For teachers (in class)

• Use it during circle time to talk about patience, turns, and routines.
• Make a Class Waiting Chart:
  “I am waiting for ___ / While I wait, I can ___.”
• Pair it with an activity: children draw “Me now / Me later” (a skill they’re learning + what practice looks like).

For libraries & reading sessions

• A lovely read-aloud with an interactive Q&A—children naturally relate to Bunty’s questions.

Pick up When Will I Grow Up? for a read-aloud that turns “when” into wonder. (Recommended age: 3–7 years)