Let's get a truth out of the way right off the bat: I think sloths are awesome. If you think like me, that alone makes this picture book a good choice for you and your kids. Sloth adoration aside, there is more to like about this book. The heart of the story is finding a place to belong. A sloth is inherently out of place in a zoo where everything and everyone moves quickly and thrives in that environment. The plot could center on the sloth finding a slow zoo or finding a way to move quickly so he can fit in. Instead, the sloth finds the few creatures at the zoo who appreciate his slow approach to life. In observing the slow creatures, the other animals see the joys of slowing down occasionally. It's not a permanent life change for any of them, just an observation of life from another's perspective. This lesson won't entirely land with the very young without a great deal of prodding but it would be a good choice for reinforcing a lesson with older children.
More information: Sloth at the Zoom releases August 15.
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