Hurry Up and Slow Down [Hardcover]

Layn Marlow (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

As Hare races through the day, Tortoise can barely keep up. But when it's time to bounce into bed, Hare is no longer in such a hurry. Hare loves to linger over their favorite book in this bedtime story about an energetic youth, a patient caretaker, and a good book.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1—This delightful spin-off of "The Tortoise and the Hare" follows a typical day in the lives of these two friends. The story opens with a panoramic spread of them traveling across a hilly landscape. The sentence "Hare is always in a hurry" is on the left, directly above an image of him running in the foreground. Readers' eyes then pan to the opposite page and the sentence "Tortoise, however, is not." Far below these words is a small image of Tortoise, in the distance. Marlow maintains the slow and steady rhythm of Tortoise by describing him with one sentence per page, all the while interjecting impatient comments from Hare in a larger, more playful font. The result is a lively back and forth between the two pals. In the end, though, it is Hare who wants Tortoise to "Hurry up and slow down" when reading aloud a bedtime story; and Tortoise passes a true test of friendship when he puts off drinking his tea, which is getting cold, to suggest that they read the entire book again. The illustrations of Hare, Tortoise, their animal companions, and their environment are rounded and softly colored, creating a comforting world for young children. An endearing story that will no doubt become a bedtime favorite.—Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD
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From Booklist

When good friends Tortoise and Hare spend a day together, it’s evident that each has his own pace and his own approach to life. First, Hare tells Tortoise “Hurry up and wake up!” Then, through their cross-country trek, it’s “Hurry up and keep up!” Lunch? “Hurry up and eat up!” But when Tortoise reads Hare a bedtime story, the tables are turned: Tortoise reads quickly, but Hare wants more time to study the pictures. Along with the child-friendly story, this picture book features a series of lovely double-page illustrations by British writer-illustrator Marlow. With clean lines and delicate shading, the pictures create a pastoral world of amiable animals, decorative plants, and homey charm. Parents will no doubt identify with Tortoise, who lets his tea go cold while he rereads his book to Hare, but children will recognize parts of themselves in both characters. Excellent for reading aloud. Preschool-Grade 2. --Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (March 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823421783
• ISBN-13: 978-0823421787
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 10.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #711,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Layn was born in Essex. She worked in libraries and went to live in Belgium for three years, before getting a first class degree in Illustration from Southampton. Layn lives with her husband, Spencer in Hampshire with their son Theo, daughter Tegan, a hamster and a goldfish. Layn enjoys walks, cycle rides, knitting and karate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect bedtime tale to discuss differences ~ are you fast paced or easy going?, April 17, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hurry Up and Slow Down (Hardcover)

The Hare is always in a big hurry to do everything. He chases through the fields after a mouse, is in a big giant hurry to get up in the morning, he hop hop hops over the stream chasing a butterfly, eats his food like there is no tomorrow . . . hurry, hurry, hurry! Now the tortoise is a different sort of critter altogether. He likes to relax and take his time with everything.

Lunchtime is a slow and easy time for him when the hare yells out, "hurry up and eat up!" Of course the tortoise likes to chew each bite "at least eleventy times." Naturally that old hare will always yell, "is it time for dessert?" All creatures are different, but with these two together there would always be a push pull relationship. Wait a minute . . . there is something that will make the hare want to slow down. What could it possibly be?

The tortoise and the hare have different personalities and ways of going about things as well as children do. This is a perfect bedtime story to read and discuss differences. The artwork is quaint and expressive in a Beatrix Potterish sort of way, but not as detailed. Are you going to want to rush through this book or take your time?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful illustrations and lovely story, November 21, 2010

By 

Ms. S - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hurry Up and Slow Down (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful version of the classic tortoise and hare story. The illustrations were so beautiful and I spent time going back over them. The illustrator uses pictures where re-occuring characters appear (the frog and snail that follow the tortoise and hare)

I thought of many ways I could use this with my classroom as a read aloud. Discussing the value of slowing down and enjoying things, the value of really enjoying a book and the pictures, and the value of time well spent together. I never heard of the author, and stumbled upon the book looking for another, and fell in love with the story twist, the pictures, and the sweetness of the characters. Would also be an excellent bedtime story, since the characters are going to bed and reading a story together. I shared this with a few other elementary teachers and it is a new favourite.