Spotlight on Sloths
Sloths are having their moment in the sun. In the past, penguins and their fluffy chicks graced the covers of countless picture books. In the last few years, the sloths have taken over. Sure, it’s been a rather slow takeover, but we prefer to call it "leisurely" or "relaxed." It's easy to see a sloth's appeal in our busy age of multitasking and speed. Sloths wear a permanent grin on their adorable faces and really do seem to live the good life: eat, sleep, and take it slow.
Here are titles, new and old, to mark the rise of the sloth. Wait, were you expecting to see pictures of sloths basking in the Costa Rican sunshine? I’m sorry…but not sorry. These might still warm you.
- Sloth Slept On by Fran Preston-Gannon (Ages 3-5)
- Sparky! by Jenny Offill & Chris Appelhans (Ages 4-8)
- SnoozeFEST by Samantha Berger (Ages 3-5)
- Mervin the Sloth is About to do the Best Thing in the World by Colleen AF Venable (Ages 4-8)
You'll notice that pop culture is entwined with Children’s literature. The painfully drawn out sloth scene in "Zootopia" was featured in the trailer for the film. TV shows like Animal Planet’s "Meet the Sloths" or guest appearances on "Ellen" and "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" have put these hairy heartbreakers in the spotlight.
- A Little Book of Sloth by Lucy Cooke (Ages 7-9)
- Kyle Goes Alone by Jan Thornill (Ages 3-7)
- A Sloth Named Velcro by PMS (Rated PG for Parental Guidance)
- Swing, Sloth! Explore the Rain Forest (Ages 2-5)
- Jeffrey and Sloth by Kari-Lynn Winters (Ages 5-8)
- Archie le Paresseux Hyperactif par Heath McKenzie (Ages 3-7)
- "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly." Said the Sloth by Eric Carle (Ages 3-7)
- Score One for the Sloths by Helen Lester (Ages 4-7)
With the rise of sloths in books and media, do you expect to hear more children professing that the sloth is their absolute favourite animal?
Comments