SLOWLY SLOWLY

A child experiences a year and the shifts in nature that come with it.

An unnamed, black-haired, tan-skinned child races through the grass, followed by a dog. As the story goes on, the seasons change. A spider spins a web, a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, and a bird builds a nest and raises its chick as a house is built in the background. Come autumn, the child has made friends with the new neighbor and taken in the subtle but beautiful transformations of the year, as exemplified in a persimmon tree taking several pages to finally bear fruit. The simplicity of this story results in its perfection. Repeated scenes of a branch of the persimmon tree, shown in different weather and at various times of day, will hold children’s interest during multiple rereads and help them learn about the seasons and other aspects of the natural world. The text urges readers to slow down: “When you slow down… // you see more. // You see big beginnings, // and small steps.” The precise, limited narrative and its message that good things can take time to develop will lull readers into a sense of calm appreciation, making this an ideal story for bedtime. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Delightful and soothing encouragement to slow down and enjoy life.