HOW CAN I WAIT WHEN THERE’S A TREAT ON MY PLATE is an informational fiction picture book published in May 2021 by Magination Press – the children’s book imprint of the American Psychological Association.
How Can I Wait teaches children strategies to delay gratification based on research including the Marshmallow Test. A Reader’s Note at the end of the book provides additional resources for adults to help children learn and implement these strategies.
This book tells the story of twins Dell and Pete, who face several situations where they need to wait (waiting for treats, as shown on the cover; waiting in line at a carnival; waiting to play with a preferred toy, etc.) At first, Dell is good at waiting and Pete is not. After Dell teaches Pete his “tricks,” which are actually evidence-based strategies to make waiting easier, Pete is much better at waiting. At the end of the story, equipped with effective techniques, both siblings (and hopefully readers!) are able to successfully wait for something they really want.
