SLOTH & MOTH

A clingy moth and a sloth who longs for his own space discover that the best relationships require a little give-and-take—and a lot of patience.

Moth happily follows Sloth as he naps and snacks. But as Sloth gets older, he craves his independence, and their friendship is tested. Sloth eventually tires of Moth’s constant companionship and flees to a new tree, but solitude quickly loses its appeal. Taylor’s premise is charming, and the book earns genuine laughs—particularly on a spread where Sloth attempts to outrun Moth, only to find her fluttering at every corner of the page, the recurring spiral of her flight path a clever compositional device that mirrors her relentless energy. Scott’s lush, softly textured illustrations bathe the rainforest canopy in warm golds, soft pinks, and hazy greens, giving the book a sun-dappled, inviting glow. Witty, color-coded speech bubbles (tangerine for Sloth, salmon for Moth) do much of the comedic heavy lifting; Moth’s “Are we there yet?” repeated three times in rapid succession is a highlight. Sloth’s sleepy, expressive face carries the emotional arc effectively. The backmatter, which discusses the real-life connections between moths and sloths, is a welcome addition.

A warm, witty friendship story; fans of odd-couple pairings will find plenty to love.