A Little Book of Sloth by Lucy Cooke

Is there anything more adorable than a baby sloth? At a sanctuary in Costa Rica, Lucy Cooke found cuddle puddles of these cute creatures to feature in A Little Book of Sloth.

There are two kinds there: Bradypus, "the Muppet with the medieval haircut and Mona Lisa smile," and Choloepus, who "look more like a cross between a Wookie and a pig."

They are the most laid-back of animals. They mostly hang out, eat and sleep. Very occasionally, a fight breaks out -- "a very, very slow fight, in which the winner is the last sloth to stay awake."

It isn't all about cute photos and word play; I also learned all kinds of fascinating stuff. Did you know it takes four weeks for a sloth to digest one meal? In the wild, sloths have an invisibility cloak, made of algae and insects, to protect them from predators. Find out more at the Aviarios del Caribe sloth sanctuary website. Also, check out the Sloth Appreciation Society website.

Enjoy sharing this book with children of any age. It's Family Literacy Day today!