What if you could skip the waiting and jump straight to the good parts?
In Hurryville City, rushing is serious business, and nobody hates waiting more than Leo. He drums on his desk, glares at the clock, and wishes he could fast-forward to everything fun.
So when he wanders into Whens & Whatnots and Wizzle the When-Witch offers him the Tomorrow Borrower 3000, Leo can't resist. One press and ZIPPETY-ZANG! His homework is done. His science project has won first place. It's already his birthday.
But the prize feels borrowed. The cake feels hollow. And when Leo lifts his trumpet, it squeaks like a sneeze.
So Leo does what any boy in a hurry would do. He goes back for more.
Told in bouncy, read-aloud rhyme and brought to life by Diana F. Shelton's bright, playful illustrations, The Boy Who Borrowed Tomorrow is a story about patience, effort, and the good stuff hiding in the waiting. It's for every kid who has ever counted the sleeps, and for every grown-up hurrying along beside them.
Inside, young readers will find:
- Lively rhyming text made for reading aloud, full of sound words kids love to shout
- A funny, gentle look at why the slow parts matter
- "Words Worth Borrowing," a back-of-book glossary that introduces rich new vocabulary from the story
- Natural conversation starters about patience, practice, and pride in hard work
Perfect for home, classroom, and library read-alouds, the book supports social-emotional learning around self-management and responsible decision-making, two core competencies in the CASEL framework. Parents and teachers will find it a natural springboard for talking about goal-setting, waiting your turn, and the deep satisfaction of earning something yourself.
A warm, whimsical picture book for impatient kids and the grown-ups who love them.
Ages 5-8 | Grades K-3
