I Am Not a Sloth

Written by Marie-Pier Meunier

Illustrated by Valérie Desrochers

CrackBoom! Books

978-2-898026041

32 pp.

Ages 6-9

May 2025 

Harry may be a sloth i.e., the mammal but he is not lazy or complacent. He is more than just sloth, and he wants everyone to see all the things that he is because he has a big personality and he's proud of it. In fact, he introduces the reader to all the Harrys he is.

From I Am Not a Sloth, written by Marie-Pier Meunier, illustrated by Valérie Desrochers

He is joyful and generous, but he can also be furious and cranky. He can be studious and adventurous but also proud and anxious. He is typical in that he is a blend of positives and less positives, lovely traits and others when challenged with life. He may be a sloth–which he finally accepts–but he's so much more.

I am HARRY

and that suits me just fine.

I like myself as I am, one of a kind. 

From I Am Not a Sloth, written by Marie-Pier Meunier, illustrated by Valérie Desrochers

Quebec's Marie-Pier Meunier's message is that all of us are not just one thing. We are a blend of so many traits, both good and less desirable, that make us who we are. We might not always like being envious or stubborn and we certainly don't want to be labelled based on a single trait or a single bad act because we are more than our worst moments. Too often children are told by their peers or a parent or a teacher than they are one thing, whether precocious or difficult, lazy or entitled, and that's all they will remember or fear that's how everyone will see them. Harry is more than a sloth in his behaviours but then aren't we all? We all have days of inefficiency or fatigue or even unkindness, but we should not let those moments define us. It's unfortunate that we often see ourselves and others in terms of our worst not who we truly are. It's hard for Harry to accept that he is a sloth because of the connotations associated with that label but Marie-Pier Meunier lets him see how much more he is–just as young readers might do so–and how full his personality is. (Her author's note speaks about how personalities are formed, that we are not defined by our emotions, and that labels are hurtful.)

From I Am Not a Sloth, written by Marie-Pier Meunier, illustrated by Valérie Desrochers

Valérie Desrochers, an illustrator also from Quebec, makes I Am Not a Sloth a joyful acceptance of self beyond the obvious. She makes Harry both shy and brave in acknowledging his true self. He has twinkling eyes, a smile that is both affectionate and self-deprecating, and a face that expresses all the good and the not-so-good traits that are Harry. And in a landscape of lush fronds and leaves, as well as in a playful house setting, readers get to see the big picture that is Harry.

 

I Am Not a Sloth would a fabulous starter for so many lessons, from writing characters that are full-developed to self-image and acceptance. Most of all, it is a sweet story about acknowledging everything about ourselves, good and bad, and not dwelling on the worst, and that includes avoiding labelling, a harmful practice that overlooks the individual as a whole.

From I Am Not a Sloth, written by Marie-Pier Meunier, illustrated by Valérie Desrochers

Mermaid Warrior Squad

Written by Karin Adams

Illustrated by Janine Carrington

James Lorimer & Co.

978-1-4594-1146-3

150 pp.

Ages 7-11

August 2017

When Dylan meets the friendly Coral at art camp, the two eleven-year-old girls seem destined to become partners.  They both love oceans and know a lot about the sea animals, perfect for an art camp themed as "Art Under the Sea." Even better, they come into the camp with different strengths:  Coral loves to draw and Dylan likes to write.  In fact, both had already created mermaid characters: Coral's is a tough-looking mermaid she calls Crash, the Mighty Mermaid Warrior, and Dylan's is a mermaid renegade named Driftwood whose mission it is to protect the oceans.  The two decide to merge their ideas and collaborate on a comic book in which the two mermaids become the Mermaid Warrior Squad.

From Mermaid Warrior Squad 

by Karin Adams

 illus. by Janine Carrington

While the two girls work on their project, as depicted in illustrator Janine Carrington's graphic insets of the two mermaids, they are also dealing with getting to know each other and their fellow campers.  Dylan loves having a friend–she's obviously a bit of an introvert–but she's having difficulties dealing with Coral's exuberance and tendency to get carried away with her efforts, silliness and volume.  The other campers include Lynn, another quiet girl; Ben, the annoying prankster; Jade and Sarina, the trendy girls; and decent guys Ryan and Lamar.  From this crew, Dylan and Coral contrive new characters like a dolphin-mermaid hybrid, the villain Captain Fishhead, the evil Seaweed Sisters, and Shark Dudes.  Their story is evolving but so is their friendship as Coral decides unilaterally on their skit for the camp's culminating performance and Dylan is compelled to stand up for herself. Ultimately, though, their friendship means more to Dylan than sitting back and watching Coral be humiliated, and she's there to rescue her friend, even if it need happen on stage.

Karin Adams's story approaches multiple themes of oceans and creating art as well as clashing personalities with humour and much insight.  It's obvious that, as much as they have common interests, Dylan and Coral have very different personalities.  Overcoming these differences so that they might work together and be supportive of each other is a key element of Mermaid Warrior Squad.  Just like their mermaid characters, the two girls' efforts are more impactful when they work together than when they are at odds with one another.  This is an important lesson for children who are often forced to work together in school and extracurricular activities.  Not every child is a Coral who wants to be at the heart of the action.  Some need to quietly work at the side in order to reach their full potential.  Though most people, including teachers, are extroverts who don't see the harm done by expecting all children to love group activities or being part of the rah-rah crowd, Mermaid Warrior Squad recognizes that children will find their own ways to be true to themselves, taking risks as they choose, and still make friends with those unlike themselves.  Strength comes from both being yourself and working with others, whether you have a mermaid tail or not.

Whether a child is heading to camp, dealing with making and keeping friends, understanding their own personality or one who loves oceans or comic books, Mermaid Warrior Squad is an entertaining light read that will engage those who are beyond early readers but might find much middle-grade fiction more daunting.  It's a nice little package of humour and lessons for middle-graders.