Sloth & Moth : A Better-Together Friendship

Inspired by the real-life symbiotic relationship between sloths and moths, this lovely tale shows that friendships can sometimes be complicated.

Sloth and Moth live together in a tree. They are close—very close. Moth lives on Sloth's back. They do everything together. They take naps, eat treats, and play games. They even take Sloth's weekly "business trips" together. They are together all the time. And that's okay . . . for a while. But as Sloth grows older, he feels he'd like a little alone time. Time to groom his fur, alone. Time to stare out into the distance, alone. Time to just enjoy some quiet without Moth's lively chatter.

So when the opportunity presents itself, Sloth heads out for a solitary life. Now there are extra-long naps, alone. And more staring out into the distance, alone. And it's nice . . . for a while. But then Sloth starts to wonder, and maybe even worry a bit, about what Moth might be up to. Is she thinking of Sloth just as Sloth is thinking of her? Could they be better together?

Engaging back matter explores the sloth‒moth relationship.

Helen Taylor is a children’s author who is drawn to quirky topics like a moth to a sloth. Her nonfiction books How to Eat in Space and Chasing Guano: The Discovery of a Penguin Supercolony are both Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections. She lives in Santa Cruz, California, with her family.

Gavin was born in Wiltshire, England. From his early childhood he was enthralled with the natural world and would often be found at the bottom of the garden, holding up a snake or some other interesting creature to investigate. Gavin went on to study natural history illustration at university and later entered the world of character design and children’s illustration. He illustrates both fiction and nonfiction books, and also makes prints, paintings, and sculptures of the natural world. He lives in Somerset.