Copyright Date:
2021
Edition Date:
2020
Release Date:
01/12/21
Illustrator:
Toro, Valentina,
Pages:
1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN:
1-683-64546-4
ISBN 13:
978-1-683-64546-7
Dewey:
E
LCCN:
2020942636
Dimensions:
24 x 29 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
Can a little sloth quell her fears and fall asleep?At the beginning of this bedtime book, the anthropomorphic mammal is having trouble settling down at night. Sloth is "worked up and worried and wide awake," but she's also fortunate to have a patient, soothing mama. Her mother guides her through a series of breathing and mindfulness techniques to help her calm down and eventually drift off to sleep. Gentle, directive dialogue is aimed at the little sloth, but readers will doubtlessly feel as though Mama is speaking to them, too, inviting them to "breathe in and count to fourâ¦and then breathe out for just as long." Perhaps they will also "imagine one of [their] worries" along with Sloth and then imagine that they can "set it free." Toro's illustrations shift from interior scenes of the sloths' treehouse home to night-sky backgrounds that draw focus to the young sloth's imaginings. The bedroom décor in the treehouse scenes is charming, with a tree trunk poking through the floor and a canopy of leaves over the bed. Other details, like the single curler in Mama's fur and patterns on pajama fabric, are delightful.A sweet, calming read. (Picture book. 3-6)
One night at bedtime, Sloth wasn't sleepy. "What if I worry when I try to fall asleep?" Sloth said."Ah . . . worries," Mama said. "We will have to let them go." A stressful day, a bad dream, a scary movie . . . these are just a few things that can keep kids wide awake and frightened after dark. But Mama Sloth knows the secret for calming worried minds--and as she shares them with her daughter, young readers will learn valuable relaxation skills that last a lifetime. Sloth Wasn't Sleepy does more than provide a sweet bedtime story--kids will join Sloth to learn mindfulness practices such as "shrinking down" fears in their mind and calming their body through breath and simple visualizations. Kate Messner's beautiful book helps parents and kids relax into dreamland with a sense of peace, safety, and belonging.