"The spider monkey leaped from branch to branch,
curling and uncurling her long, skinny tail.
Her round eyes darted here and there looking for
fresh fruit. Leaves scattered in the air.
Startled hummingbirds flew every which way.
"You're making me dizzy," the sloth grumbled
softly. "You are going too fast."
When Sami arrives looking for her friend, Sydney is hanging upside down, and slowly making his way along a tree branch. Sydney lets Sami know he is no longer Sydney at all. Rather, he has taken on the persona of a quiet, slow-moving sloth. Sami is both surprised and impressed to see the tropical setting, the glistening fur, and to hear the sloth's intention of chewing a leaf.
Sami determines a sloth's life is not nearly speedy enough for her. She would like to be a spider monkey. The sloth is not impressed at all. Their antics impress Edward who does not want to be left out of the sunny day fun. Suddenly, an elephant appears in the grass, swinging its long trunk and flapping its ears. Annamaria arrives to find her friends doing what they do. Not wanting to miss the action, she scuttles along, tongue hanging out in search of her favorite food ... ants!
The noise over Annamaria's diet wakes Brigitte, a weary, tiny bat who is fatigued after a night of mosquito hunting. She needs rest, not riotous conversation. When she tells them she ate nearly six thousand mosquitos, they don't believe her. She reacts angrily, causing Edward to take matters into his own hands and do what he does best!
Marie-Louise Gay has always been so adept at seeing young children as they are. In her new book, she flawlessly captures them as they imagine themselves to be. The setting is filled with color, warmth, and light. Their conversations are spot on, and the happy result of their play throughout the day is perfect. What a wonderful world Ms. Gay provides for young children and their endless imagination! 
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