Ready, Steady, Sloth! [Hardcover]

Follow—very slowly—a brown-throated sloth and her clinging baby as they go on a secretive, daring mission in this captivating look at a hugely popular creature by a BBC documentary maker.

Did you know that sloths give birth hanging upside down? That they fall out of their tree in the rainforest canopy about once a week? That they’re covered with algae and small brown moths that serve as an excellent disguise? Or that it takes them thirty days to digest a single leaf? The animals’ slow digestion may account for their weekly long journey from treetops to ground (where they deposit a smelly signal to other sloths), and their talent for freezing in place helps to keep them safe from predators during this dangerous operation. With humor and warmth, this engaging narrative, coupled with vividly colorful, friendly illustrations, is sure to please sloth lovers and attract new fans. More information about the seven species of sloths can be found in the back matter, along with resources for helping to save this enduring animal’s dwindling habitat.Beautiful, vibrantly colored artwork allows readers to deepen their understanding of the gently humorous text. . . .An excellent picture book about sloths that will entertain and inform young readers.
—School Library Journal

Mixed-media illustrations showcase the vibrant colors of a tropical rainforest and draw readers into this examination of a resident three-fingered sloth. . . .Small print below the main text provides facts that complement the action in the pictures. . . . [An] entertaining and informative book.
—The Horn BookJustin Anderson is a zoologist and filmmaker with a passion for animals and wild places. He is the author of Snow Leopard: Ghost of the Mountains, illustrated by Patrick Blž