Mervin The Sloth Is About To Do The Best Thing In The World

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Description

Mervin the Sloth is just standing there quietly when giant letters drop onto the page: Mervin the Sloth is about to do the best thing in the world. But what is the best thing in the world What is Mervin about to do

It doesnt take long for all of Mervins exuberant animal friends to barge in with their own ideas. Flying! Digging! Gazelling! Wait, gazelling Is that even a word

If only sloths werent so slow! Because maybe its something even better. But only Amy the red panda sticks around to see it.

This inventive picture book balances zany, pitch-perfect humor with warmth and heartand irresistibly huggable animal characters. Fans of The Book with No Pictures and The Monster at the End of This Book will delight in the way it plays with form, makes you laugh out loud, and introduces us all to our new, very slow-moving best friend.

Reviews

"Mervin has top billing, but the real star of Venable's semi-metafictional story is the title itself...The repartee...and Chan's cartoon choreographing of the argumentative cast crackle with silly energy." -- Publishers Weekly

"A best thing, indeed. ...Chan's appealing, cartoon-style watercolor illustrations enhance the humor of the text throughout the picture book and employ a distinct, memorable style. A book to hug close and then share with a friend." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Emerging readers will delight in reading this metafiction narrative. ...The simple, distinguished watercolor illustrations create drama, and the details on every page invite repeated viewings. A fabulous choice for young readers and for storytime sharing." -- School Library Journal

Author Bio

Colleen AF Venable is the author of the National Book Award longlist graphic novel Kiss Number 8, as well as forthcoming middle grade graphic novels, and the Pet Shop Private Eye graphic novels. Her picture books include Mervin the Sloth Is About to Do the Best Thing in the World and Amy the Red Panda Is Writing the Best Story in the World. Her day jobs have included marketing positions at the Children's Book Council and Roaring Brook Press, before becoming art director at First Second and Workman Publishing. She is currently founding art director of the new Odd Dot imprint at Macmillan. She grew up in Walden, New York, and attended Wagner College, where she majored in English and studio art. Colleen AF Venable lives in Brooklyn, New York. Before becoming a full-time illustrator and author, Ruth Chan spent her childhood tobogganing in Canada, her teens living in and exploring China, a number of years studying art and education, and a decade working with youth and families in underserved communities. She now writes and illustrates in Brooklyn NY and enjoys hanging out with alpacas very, very much. Visit ohtruth.com for more info.