Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said The Sloth [Hardcover]

Eric Carle (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Slowly, slowly, slowly . . . that's how the sloth lives. He hangs upside-down from the branch of a tree, night and day, in the sun and in the rain, while the other animals of the rain forest rush past him. "Why are you so slow? Why are you so quiet? Why are you so lazy?" the others ask the sloth. And, after a long, long, long time, the sloth finally tells them!

Set in the lush world of the tropical rain forest, this original picture book is an exquisite showcase of Eric Carle's colorful collage art-with a meaningful message: Slow down! Take time to enjoy your world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The three-toed sloth of the Amazon rain forest is very, very slow. "Why are you so slow?" the howler monkey asks. But the sloth doesn't answer. He doesn't respond when the caiman asks why he's so quiet, either--or when the anteater asks why he's so boring. He is only moved to speak when the jaguar asks him why he's so lazy. After thinking long and hard (as sloths tend to do), he begins to elaborate on his many slothful qualities: unflappable, lethargic, but not lazy. "That's just how I am. I like to do things slowly, slowly, slowly." This simple introduction to the joys of sloth (and sloths) may be the perfect book for bedtime--parents and children alike will enjoy learning in zoologist Jane Goodall's foreword that sloths sleep 15 to 19 hours a day! The beautiful tapirs, tree frogs, and birds of the Amazon that adorn Eric Carle's cut-paper collage, color-drenched pages are identified at the close of this lush, oversized picture book. (Preschool to age 5) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

With a preface by Jane Goodall, an emphasis on Amazon rain forest animals and Carle's bright, trademark collages, this book is sure to find a wide audience. All the animals in the rain forest watch as the sloth "slowly, slowly, slowly" crawls along a tree branch or "slowly, slowly, slowly" eats a leaf. "Why are you so slow?" they ask, "...so quiet, ...so boring?" The sloth does not answer until the jaguar asks why he is lazy. In the volume's densest chunk of text, the sloth replies with an unexpected barrage of adjectives, admitting that, while he is "sluggish, lethargic, placid, calm, mellow, laid-back and, well, slothful," he is "not lazy... that's just how I am. I like to do things slowly,/ slowly,/ slowly." The narrative's use of simple repeated phrases requires readers to ape the protagonist the text compels them to slow down. Colorful endpapers name all of the animals introduced in Carle's signature collage illustrations, with a setting particularly well-suited to his jewel-like palette. Children will readily identify with the hero's need to move at his own pace. The sweet, moss-covered sloth will especially appeal to rushed families who will find in Carle's attractive book a brief respite from their hurried lives. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Philomel; First Edition edition (August 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399239545
• ISBN-13: 978-0399239540
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for young children.


Eric was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, and moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old. After graduating from art school, he returned to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories, and found work as a graphic designer.


After seeing an advertisement designed by Eric, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask him to illustrate a story he had written. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, with its distinctive collage style, was the result of their collaboration. This favorite was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Eric was writing his own stories, developing a close bond with Ann Beneduce, the founder of Philomel Books, who would be his editor for nearly 40 years. In 1969 they published the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Since this beginning, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.


The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions. He says "I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born.
Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."


Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. He and his wife Barbara divide their time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Will Be a Classic, September 2, 2002

By 

Wendy Kaplan (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said The Sloth (Hardcover)

After all these years of presenting us with fabulous children's books, Eric Carle has outdone himself. "Slowly, Slowly," a beautifully written and illustrated tribute to the world's rain forests, will bring a tear to an adult's eye, and will appeal to children of ALL ages, despite its picture-book presentation.

Beginning with the thoughtful, simply written but heartfelt introduction by Jane Goodall, in which she explains the world of the sloth in terms anyone can understand, to the lovely wording of the book (the sloth does everything slowly, slowly...languid and lovely) to the trademark Carle collage illustrations, this book has something for everyone. And it educates in such a subtle way that even the most recalcitrant child will come away with a strong sense of who lives in the rain forests and why they must be preserved.

Every page features not only the sloth, but another animal as well, illustrated in the most enchanting of collage pictures. At the end of the book, each of these "extra" animals is listed by its special picture, and identified. And each is native to the rain forest.

What more can I say? I predict this will become Carle's legacy, outdoing all the rest of his work combined. I love it so much that I am ordering it for my college-age daughter, whose love of all things wild survived into her young adulthood.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Set Your Own Pace....., October 2, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said The Sloth (Hardcover)

Slowly, slowly, slowly...that's the way of the sloth. Whether crawling along a branch, or eating a leaf, the sloth never hurries, but spends most of his life hanging upside down from a tree branch in the rain forest, and sleeping, rain or shine. "Why are you so slow?" the howler monkey asked one day." And why so quiet and boring, other animals want to know. The sloth didn't answer. He just hung, silently, and slept. But when the jaguar asks why he's so lazy, the sloth finally sees the need to set the record straight. He may be many things, among them lackadaisical, unflappable, sluggish, calm, and laid-back. "I am relaxed and tranquil, and I like to live in peace. But I am not lazy." Then the sloth yawned and said, "That's just how I am. I like to do things slowly, slowly, slowly." Beginning with an intriguing forward by Jane Goodall, detailing the life and habits of the sloth, Eric Carle's wonderfully creative picture book pays homage to an unlikely and endearing hero. His spare and slothlike, repetitive text is quiet, soothing and engaging. But, as always, it's Mr Carle's bold, bright, and imaginative cut-paper collage illustrations that make this book stand out and sparkle. Each two page spread dazzles with vibrant color and clever detail as the many animals who live in the rain forest march by, and youngsters can find all their pictures and names displayed on the endpapers for further reference. Perfect for preschoolers, "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said The Sloth is a captivating masterpiece that entertains and enlightens with its gentle message. As the sloth would tell you...Slow down, set your own pace, and enjoy life!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure, April 30, 2003

By 

Preston McClear, Author The Boy Under the Bed - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said The Sloth (Hardcover)

Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth, written by Eric Carle, is a delightful children's picture book about the joys of learning to march to one's own drum. A sloth lives alone in the rain forest. The sloth does nothing but hang from the branches of his tree and sleep all day. During the course of the story various animals ask the sloth questions about his habits. "Why are you so slow?" "Why are you so lazy?" The sloth finally responds one day with the following rather simple but effective defense of his life style, "That's just how I am. I like to do things slowly, slowly, slowly." The illustrations are bright and colorful. Eric Carle's collage style is perfectly suited for creating the sloth's rain forest home and the many other animal denizens who populate its landscape. Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth is an excellent book with a gentle and heart felt message for children.

Preston McClear,