"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth (2002)

     "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," said the Sloth--don't you just love that alliteration! And let's draw little readers' attention to the quotation marks, too! Notice the green in the sloth's body? That may be Eric Carle's representation for algae that grows on their fur. 

     This story reminds us that slow is OK. The sloth is a slow-moving creature in a world where every other creature moves quickly. Even a turtle passes by. Yet the sloth is perceptive and self-confident. The reader is pleasantly surprised and impressed with the sloth's answer to his neighbors' questions. Its usual silence conceals a wealth of knowledge and deep self-respect. Children who identify with the sloth will experience validation. Children who move quickly through the world will gain priceless insight – seeing the world from someone else's perspective.