Today’s picture book is a beautifully rendered reminder about the amount that can be gained from being unhurried. We received a copy of The Sloth Who Came to Stay by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Vivienne To from Allen & Unwin for review and here’s the blurb from A&U:
A wryly amusing story about a fast family who are taught to slow down when an adorable sloth comes to stay by the award-winning author of Fox and Ruby Roars.
Amy’s family is speedy! They are always in such a rush that there is no time to talk or play – until the afternoon Amy brings home a sloth. Then things start changing very, very slowly …A timely tale about enjoying the little things in life from award-winning author Margaret Wild.
The Sloth Who Came To Stay by Margaret Wild & Vivienne To. Published by Allen & Unwin, 28th June 2017. RRP: $ 24.99
We all need a reminder now and again to stop and smell the roses and I can’t think of a more beguiling reminder than that found in this book. Amy’s family like to multi-task; they shop for groceries while making phone calls, exercise while doing the dishes and always bring their work to the dinner table. After all, if they don’t move fast, they won’t have enough time to fit everything in to their busy, busy days. When Amy finds a sloth at the park and brings him home to stay, her family’s schedule is turned upside down and in the time they spend waiting for Sloth, they discover that taking one’s time can reap its own rewards.
This book has a thorough helping of charm. Sloth is absolutely adorable, not least because he moves so slowly he has greenery growing on his fur! When read aloud, the text and rhythm of the book reflect the considerable slowing of the family’s life as they aim to accommodate Sloth’s pace. Similarly, the illustrations depicting the family home become less cluttered and brighter as the family’s new slower pace of life starts to show positive results.
The mini-fleshlings immediately took to this story as a pre-bedtime read aloud and particularly enjoyed picking out details in the illustrations, such as Sloth’s lady beetle and caterpillar friends, and the unusual activities of the family over the fence, whose presence will become important at the end of the story. The book was a joy to read and one that the mini-fleshlings asked for again and again after its initial introduction.
As well as being a delightful and relevant story for today’s busy families, The Sloth Who Came to Stay would also make a cheeky, and hopefully instructive, gift for a super-speedy family of your acquaintance.
Until next time,
Bruce
The Bookshelf Gargoyle 
My New years resolution was to slow down and smell the roses. This sounds so cute.
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This sounds adorable! I think my granddaughter would like this.
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