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Monday, September 6, 2021

The Secret Life of the Sloth, written by Laurence Pringle and illustrated by Kate Garchinsky. Boyds Mill Press, Penguin Random House. 2021. $23.99 ages 5 and up

 


"One day Perezoso's camouflage saves her life. 
A harpy eagle flies through the forest. It zooms 
between the understory and the canopy. With its
sharp vision, it looks above and below for prey
hunting for monkeys and sloths. Twice the eagle 
swoops near Perezoso. Twice it doesn't see her.

Children will enjoy the way Laurence Pringle makes his information book about sloths and the rainforest more personal by naming his sloth Perezoso, and telling her story. It is an affectionate account of a brown-throated, three-fingered sloth and the days she spends living her life. 

Interested readers learn that she is a swimmer, comfortable in water. Her movement on land is much more difficult because she moves along the ground by pulling herself with her front arms. Once she is in the trees, she is able to maneuver skillfully. As the story follows her through her days, much is learned about the forest itself. 

Eating habits, movement, predators, birth and baby care, and daily rituals are clearly explained in accessible and descriptive text. There is drama in the moments predators threaten, as readers are fully aware of how vulnerable Perezoso is when not in the safety of the trees. 

"Three-toed sloths are different. 
It is Perezoso who leaves. Her son 
stays where he grew up. She will 
live in another part of her home 
range. They touch and smell each 
other one last time.
"

The art is done using crayon and pastel; it gives readers a strong sense of place and a close-up look at the perpetual smile worn by these slow-moving tree dwellers. In back matter, the author provides a relevant section called More About Sloths which is quite fascinating.                                                                              

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