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Sloths never get anywhere soon

Cover of Mama in the Moon
A review of Mama in the Moon by Doreen Cronin and Brian Cronin

This quiet picture book by the author of the rollicking Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type prepares young readers for bedtime in a calm and comforting way. Baby sloth and his mama live high up in the tree. They sleep in the light of the moon holding each other tight. 

One night, baby sloth falls from the tree and tumbles down to the soft ground below. Baby sloth calls to his mama and she assures him that she is right there and will be by his side soon. But the journey down the tree is a long, slow one. So, baby and mama call and respond to each other by using all their senses: looking for the moon, smelling the flowers, hearing the wriggling worms and feeling the fluttering of moths. Eventually mama and baby are reunited and begin their slow, snuggly journey back up the tall tree.

An author's note explains that on average, a sloth will fall out of a tree once a week for its entire life. This is a normal part of how they live! The illustrations are primarily black and tones of black-on-black pages, with splashes of safe, bright, color to "light" the way. This is sure to be a bedtime favorite. It's an absolute delight to read.

Aug 12, 2024