Sloth Wasn't Sleepy

by Kate Messner, Valentina Toro (Illustrator)

Overview

For any child having trouble getting to sleep, the most lovable animal in the rain forest is here to help.

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 tough day, a bad dream, a scary noise … these are just a few of the things that can keep kids wide awake and frightened after dark. But Mama Sloth knows the secrets for calming worried minds and getting to sleep—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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683645467
Publisher:	Sounds True, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/12/2021
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	641,176
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate Messner is the beloved author of numerous award-winning books for young readers, including Over and Under the Pond, The Brilliant Deep, Breakout, and the Ranger in Time series. She lives in Plattsburgh, New York. For more, visit katemessner.com.

Valentina Toro is a children’s book illustrator and a member of Advocate Art Inc. She lives in Medellín, Colombia. For more, visit advocate-art.com/valentina-toro.

Editorial Reviews

"A sweet, calming read." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2020-11-18
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 four…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)

Kirkus Reviews