Go, sloth, go!

Toddler-Gr 1--After waking from a nap, Sloth journeys through the trees upward to find food. Sloth continues her journey on each page, until she makes it to the height where the leaves are perfect for eating. At the conclusion of the story, Sloth is full and exhausted, and ready to go to sleep. Although the words on each page are sparse, singsong rhymes throughout the text set the pace. The story returns to the common stanza, "go, sloth, go, sloth, go, sloth, go" every few pages, quickening and slowing the tempo. The turn of every page offers a new spread illustrating Sloth's adventure. A black ink-drawn sloth is pictured on bright green cut paper arranged and layered to form a vibrant background. That changes from bright to more muted greens, then to blues, hazy yellows, and reds as Sloth proceeds upward to break through the canopy of the trees. VERDICT This engaging picture book, perfect for read-alouds with young children, is recommended for all picture book collections.--Misty Schattle

A sloth awakens in a jungle and begins her ponderous ascent in search of the tastiest leaves at the top of the canopy. Along the way, an unseen narrator offers encouragement with the repeated phrase "Go, Sloth, go, Sloth, go, Sloth, go!" As she inches closer to the sky and open views, blues begin to enter the initially verdant palette, and after she finally finds and snacks on the delicious leaves, the sun starts to set, bathing the now-sleeping sloth in a soothing orange glow. Concise but effective rhymes and frequent repetition of the titular refrain make for a reading experience as steady and cheery as the sloth herself is. Little ones will enjoy the chance to chime in once they pick up the rhythm, but the deliberate pace of the story could just as easily lull them to sleep; indeed, the text itself seems to fade in color as the sloth falls asleep. The subtle jungle background lets the stylized black sloth and the words take the spotlight, furthering the mellow atmosphere, though the silhouettes of a few other small animals drifting by make for a beautifully realized setting. As in herThe Pelican Can! (2024), Yuly immerses readers in the natural world; young people will be entirely invested in her sleepy subject's ultimately satisfying journey. Simultaneously cozy and utterly engaging in its simplicity.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.