Slow Samson by Bethany Christou
Published by Templar Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1536215473
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Samson is a sloth, and he has a lot of jungle friends. Samson gets invited to a lot of parties, but he never seems to make it to them before they’ve ended. Along the way, he stops to settle arguments, just to chat with friends, or to lend a helping hand. His friends decide they need to do something to help Samson make it to a party on time. They send him an invite and get to work. When Samson does finally make it to a party, he’s overjoyed and surprised by what he finds.

This is a wonderful story about slowing down, making time for people, and frienship. For a time, Samson decides to rush to the party instead of helping his friends along the way. He still doesn’t make it, and now he realizes he was rude to his friends for no reason. The text is simple, straightforward, and easy to follow. The illustrations are colorful and help to bring the emotion of the story to life. This is sure to be a hit with sloth and nature lovers alike. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME