"Baby
watched
as
Mama
made
her
way
down
the
front
of
the
moon."
What babies don't love snuggling with their mamas? Baby Sloth is the same as other babies; he loves spending as much time as he can with his Mama. They live high in the trees, as sloths do. They cuddle together as the moon shines brightly on them. They stay as close as they can all night long.
When Baby topples from the tree unexpectedly, he is frightened. Not hurt, just missing his Mama and wondering where she is in the darkness that surrounds him. Mama is always reassuring as Baby calls to her. She tells him she is on her way; it is a long way down. As she descends, Baby remains concerned for her presence. When encouraged to look more closely, he can finally see her in the light of the moon. Now, he can keep an eye on her.
Their conversation remains constant and reassuring as time passes and Mama gets closer and closer. In an effort to distract her baby, she encourages him to smell the flowers nearby and to listen for the worms and moths. His concern remains, but he is not quite so anxious. The beauty of the night, pointed out by his loving mother, calms him.
For much of the story, young readers cannot see Mama, in the same way that Baby cannot see her. Brian Cronin uses black and blue to great success, then follows with explosions of color and action as Mama calmly makes her way from treetop to the ground as only a sloth can do ... slowly, but surely.
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