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Mervin the Sloth #1
Mervin the Sloth Is About to Do the Best Thing in the World
Mervin the Sloth is about to do the best thing in the world.
Can you guess what it is?
“Flying!” says the bird.
“Gazelling!” says the gazelle.
“Digging!” says the prairie dog.
Hurry up, Mervin! But Mervin moves so slowly. Are you patient enough to wait? No? Turn the page!
Can you guess what it is?
“Flying!” says the bird.
“Gazelling!” says the gazelle.
“Digging!” says the prairie dog.
Hurry up, Mervin! But Mervin moves so slowly. Are you patient enough to wait? No? Turn the page!
40 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 13, 2016
124 people want to read
About the author
Colleen A.F. Venable
51 books438 followersYou might know me from such films as "Colleen's Fourth Birthday Party" and "Colleen Falls Down Over and Over Again While Ice Skating."
Fun facts!
-I have a huge connect-the-dots tattoo.
-I accidentally started an international holiday.
(See National Pancake Day or Lumberjack Day, every Sept 26)
-I once sang back-up on an album nominated for the Polka Grammy.
-I can't sing.
-When I was 18, I broke a national coed jump-rope record.
My debut YA graphic novel Kiss Number 8 was a National Book Award Longlist title, an Eisner nominee, and a Prism award finalist.
My graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids and awarded “Best Book” recognition from Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and the Junior Library Guild.
I grew up in the trees of Walden, New York….well, not very high up the trees, since I always got scared, but I did carve my name in a lot of low hanging boughs. I had an older sister, a dog, a cat, a million fish, and an imaginary pet hamster named, yup you guessed it, Hamisher. Why have an imaginary friend when you can have an imaginary friend that can fit in your pocket!
I went to Wagner College and double majored in English and Studio Art, winning the award of “biggest dork” (aka first in my class)
I love graphic novels more than I love having feet and I really do love having feet. They keep my shoes on.
Pssst My name is actually spelled Colleen AF Venable. No punctuation. My birth name was Colleen Ann Venable, but in 1994 I asked to change my middle name to Felicity, because that's the sort of thing you do when you are 14. So I started to go by Colleen AF...mostly because I was bad at typing periods. The internet either ruined my name or made it SO MUCH COOLER. You can decide.
Fun facts!
-I have a huge connect-the-dots tattoo.
-I accidentally started an international holiday.
(See National Pancake Day or Lumberjack Day, every Sept 26)
-I once sang back-up on an album nominated for the Polka Grammy.
-I can't sing.
-When I was 18, I broke a national coed jump-rope record.
My debut YA graphic novel Kiss Number 8 was a National Book Award Longlist title, an Eisner nominee, and a Prism award finalist.
My graphic novel series Guinea Pig, Pet Shop Private Eye (illustrated by Stephanie Yue) was nominated for an Eisner for Best Publication for Kids and awarded “Best Book” recognition from Kirkus Reviews, NYPL, Bank Street, and the Junior Library Guild.
I grew up in the trees of Walden, New York….well, not very high up the trees, since I always got scared, but I did carve my name in a lot of low hanging boughs. I had an older sister, a dog, a cat, a million fish, and an imaginary pet hamster named, yup you guessed it, Hamisher. Why have an imaginary friend when you can have an imaginary friend that can fit in your pocket!
I went to Wagner College and double majored in English and Studio Art, winning the award of “biggest dork” (aka first in my class)
I love graphic novels more than I love having feet and I really do love having feet. They keep my shoes on.
Pssst My name is actually spelled Colleen AF Venable. No punctuation. My birth name was Colleen Ann Venable, but in 1994 I asked to change my middle name to Felicity, because that's the sort of thing you do when you are 14. So I started to go by Colleen AF...mostly because I was bad at typing periods. The internet either ruined my name or made it SO MUCH COOLER. You can decide.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 20, 2017
AHHHH THE BEST THING IS FRIENDSHIP THIS IS SUPER ADORABLE.
Cute message, funny text, cute pictures. Excellent.
Cute message, funny text, cute pictures. Excellent.
June 15, 2019
The eponymous hero of this charming meta-fictional picture-book stands motionless as the text "Mervin the Sloth Is About To Do the Best Thing" slowly sinks down the page. His fox friend is eager to see what he will do, and so too are the other animals who show up, one by one. The bird think he will fly, the gazelle that he will "gazelle" (an activity that apparently involves a bit of bouncing), the moles think he will dig. As each argues for his idea, Mervin himself still stands motionless. Eventually everyone but the fox gets bored, moving off just as more text begins to sink down the page: "Hug his Best Friend..."
An entertaining tale with a sweet pay-off at the end, Mervin the Sloth Is About To Do the Best Thing In the World involves quite a bit of innovative character-typography interaction, not just in the relationship between Mervin's slow-moving action, and the aforementioned sinking text, but also in the way that various characters bump into or override the central text in their hurry and/or excitement. This interaction is really quite clever, as it parallels the interaction of the animals with Mervin, their quick speech and actions seeming to overwhelm his slow-moving mode of being, only for our sloth hero to get there in the end, going at his own pace. The artwork by Ruth Chan, whose recent Where's the Party? was a charming debut, really adds to the sense of fun, while capably balancing the textual/artistic back and forth of the book. Highly recommended to anyone looking for humorous picture-book with a meta-fictional twist!
An entertaining tale with a sweet pay-off at the end, Mervin the Sloth Is About To Do the Best Thing In the World involves quite a bit of innovative character-typography interaction, not just in the relationship between Mervin's slow-moving action, and the aforementioned sinking text, but also in the way that various characters bump into or override the central text in their hurry and/or excitement. This interaction is really quite clever, as it parallels the interaction of the animals with Mervin, their quick speech and actions seeming to overwhelm his slow-moving mode of being, only for our sloth hero to get there in the end, going at his own pace. The artwork by Ruth Chan, whose recent Where's the Party? was a charming debut, really adds to the sense of fun, while capably balancing the textual/artistic back and forth of the book. Highly recommended to anyone looking for humorous picture-book with a meta-fictional twist!
April 3, 2018
First sentence: There you are, Mervin! What are you...
Premise/plot: Falling letters--or a falling sentence to be precise--begin this picture book starring Mervin the Sloth. If Mervin's friends have the patience to wait for it--if readers have the patience to wait for it--they will learn what 'the best thing in the world' is. In the meanwhile, everyone has an opinion, a guess, as to what the best thing in the world is.
My thoughts: I don't know that I love, love, love this one. But I liked the ending. I liked seeing what Mervin's 'best thing in the world' is. I thought it very sweet. Much better than some of his friends' suggestions.
Text: 3.5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3.5 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
Premise/plot: Falling letters--or a falling sentence to be precise--begin this picture book starring Mervin the Sloth. If Mervin's friends have the patience to wait for it--if readers have the patience to wait for it--they will learn what 'the best thing in the world' is. In the meanwhile, everyone has an opinion, a guess, as to what the best thing in the world is.
My thoughts: I don't know that I love, love, love this one. But I liked the ending. I liked seeing what Mervin's 'best thing in the world' is. I thought it very sweet. Much better than some of his friends' suggestions.
Text: 3.5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3.5 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10
January 14, 2017
Delightful in so many ways! First - it's a sloth! Next, some meta fiction going on as characters notice the letters are falling. Predictable thing that the sloth does, back endpages are a spoiler. Adorable case art!
October 24, 2016
Made me laugh out loud, which is rare in a picture book.
February 12, 2018
This book promotes turning yourself into a robot and fighting sharks, neither of which are healthy.
March 27, 2019
This made me smile a lot!!
August 31, 2022
I find this book challenging to read aloud. It’s great to sit quietly and read to yourself, so I recommend it for older kiddos than my two-year old. The story and art are really cute though!
October 19, 2016
Lots of letters and cute, colorful animals fill the picture book page stage in Mervin the Sloth is About to do the Best Thing in the World. Mervin moves so, so, slowly, just as one might expect a sloth to do. Thank goodness for the quirky cast of energetic and inquisitive characters that show up to pepper him and his red panda buddy with questions!
The title of the book drops slowly into the book pages and hangs as a continuous prop for a bird, gazelle, prairie dogs and many other animals. Puzzled by the meaning of the title, they all make suggestions about exactly what it is Mervin could have in mind. Will he fly? Dig? Or even go “gazelling”? It’s a great opportunity for reading partners to imagine and discuss what activities other species might think are the “Best Things in the World.”
So slowly, almost imperceptibly, Mervin’s arms are lifting up. Does this offer any clues to impatient readers? Will he fight a shark? Turn into a robot? The animals wait, wait, wait. Their quirky speech bubbles get quieter, then a little testy, before they stride off to more thrilling adventures. But Red Panda patiently persists – he must know Mervin better than anyone. In fact, he just might be Mervin’s best friend!
Chan masterfully builds suspense by adding comic critters one by one onto a simple background, allowing young readers to get to know their personalities through goofy expressions and funny speech bubbles. By the middle of the book, the pages have filled with a colorful riot of animals, bubbles, and letters crowding Mervin, who steadfastly maintains his center stage placement. Venable’s simple, silly dialogue compels readers to continue flipping pages until the final reveal.
It’s high time that a picture book combined a red panda and a sloth as main characters, and Mervin will definitely appeal to young readers that appreciate their comic and cuddly friendship.
The title of the book drops slowly into the book pages and hangs as a continuous prop for a bird, gazelle, prairie dogs and many other animals. Puzzled by the meaning of the title, they all make suggestions about exactly what it is Mervin could have in mind. Will he fly? Dig? Or even go “gazelling”? It’s a great opportunity for reading partners to imagine and discuss what activities other species might think are the “Best Things in the World.”
So slowly, almost imperceptibly, Mervin’s arms are lifting up. Does this offer any clues to impatient readers? Will he fight a shark? Turn into a robot? The animals wait, wait, wait. Their quirky speech bubbles get quieter, then a little testy, before they stride off to more thrilling adventures. But Red Panda patiently persists – he must know Mervin better than anyone. In fact, he just might be Mervin’s best friend!
Chan masterfully builds suspense by adding comic critters one by one onto a simple background, allowing young readers to get to know their personalities through goofy expressions and funny speech bubbles. By the middle of the book, the pages have filled with a colorful riot of animals, bubbles, and letters crowding Mervin, who steadfastly maintains his center stage placement. Venable’s simple, silly dialogue compels readers to continue flipping pages until the final reveal.
It’s high time that a picture book combined a red panda and a sloth as main characters, and Mervin will definitely appeal to young readers that appreciate their comic and cuddly friendship.
December 1, 2017
It was difficult to read because of all the text, also, I'm really disappointed that he didn't take a nap at the end.
September 17, 2016
So thoroughly enjoyable in a totally goofy kind of way.
December 31, 2016
Young readers will find the big black falling letters captivating. They start half cut-off at the top of each page, landing on Fox first. Then Bird crashes into them and Gazelle bounds over more of them. Each page reiterates that Sloth is going to do the very best thing. Gophers get in the act and begin arguing with Gazelle and Bird. Each thinks they know what Sloth is going to do. Of course Sloth moves veeery slowly, so as more creatures get into the debate, it seems that he’s not going to do anything. The speculation runs rampant, but eventually all of the creatures, save Fox start to become bored. Then Sloth really does the very best thing. Read the book and discover what it is.
A nicely illustrated feel good book for little ones that will be a great choice for story hour or read-alouds at home.
A nicely illustrated feel good book for little ones that will be a great choice for story hour or read-alouds at home.
June 13, 2019
It's fun to guess what Mervin will be doing. A cute book.
September 13, 2016
The story is remarkably cute, and plays off the slowness of the sloth to make a simple point. You can do the best thing in the world by doing only one thing, the right way.
I was mainly familiar with the author from her juvenile graphic novels, the Guinea P.I.[G] series. The humor in this book will appeal to a lot of kids, but overall it's for a younger audience than her graphic novels. Nothing wrong with that.
The actions of the other animals, as they demonstrate digging, flying and, um...gazelling are a treat. Their imaginative ideas about what the best thing in the world might be were inspiring, and it would be fun to ask kids what their idea of the best thing in the world might be.
I was mainly familiar with the author from her juvenile graphic novels, the Guinea P.I.[G] series. The humor in this book will appeal to a lot of kids, but overall it's for a younger audience than her graphic novels. Nothing wrong with that.
The actions of the other animals, as they demonstrate digging, flying and, um...gazelling are a treat. Their imaginative ideas about what the best thing in the world might be were inspiring, and it would be fun to ask kids what their idea of the best thing in the world might be.
November 6, 2016
Extra bonus points for originality! I can honestly say I've never read a picture book quite like this. Between the letters occupying physical space on the page (and over time being destroyed by the other animals) and the humor of Mervin's very slow movement to "hug position" there's a lot here to revisit in repeated readings. It's almost song-like in its rhythm, from quiet and inquisitive to loud and clamorous to a quiet resolution at the end.
November 19, 2016
My friend Sarah loves sloths, so I read this to Christopher in her honor. It's a cute story. There is a sign saying Mervin will do the best thing ever, so the other animals try to guess what it will be. Their enthusiasm and excitement makes the book fun.
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/11/juv...
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/11/juv...
March 11, 2019
True to form, Mervin the Sloth hardly moves for the entire book. All the animals around him, though, are extremely curious and are moving all around.
The book breaks the third wall, interacting directly with the text.
The secret: the best thing in the world is hugging your best friend.
Good for discussions on what each person thinks is the best thing in the world.
The book breaks the third wall, interacting directly with the text.
The secret: the best thing in the world is hugging your best friend.
Good for discussions on what each person thinks is the best thing in the world.
October 20, 2016
Every page has the words Mervin the sloth is about to do the best thing in the world and all the animals trying to guess what Mervin is going to do. What will he do? Are they willing to wait to find out? One friend is? Preschool and up for humor. Cute ending.
November 18, 2016
The story on this is very, very slight, but the illustrations are the best! I'm not sure I can get over Mervin himself, who just stands there with a happy smile on his face and his arms slightly akimbo. So much hubbub around him, and he just smiles and gets ready to do his best thing.
December 29, 2016
Super cute and funny book starring our two favorite animals - SLOTHS and RED PANDAS! We couldn't be happier! And, not to spoil anything, but Mervin really does end up doing one of the best things in the world!
January 20, 2017
So funny! Poor sloth just wants to do something amazing and he's so slow everyone gives up waiting for him. Lucky he has a best friend by his side who is willing to wait it out with him because he is the recipient of the best thing in the world!
March 9, 2018
The kids laughed all the way through this one so it definitely earned its 5 star rating.
In addition to being humorous, the suspense holds up until the end, where we discover the best thing that sloth is going to do.
Very sweet ending.
In addition to being humorous, the suspense holds up until the end, where we discover the best thing that sloth is going to do.
Very sweet ending.
March 4, 2019
Mervin is going to s-l-o-w-l-y do the best thing in the world. His friends try guessing what it is, but only his best friend is patient enough to wait and find out. Cute story. If the reader pays close attention Mervin is shown having moved a tiny bit on each new page.
September 13, 2016
This made me grin. Gazelling!
September 20, 2016
Sweet ending!
September 22, 2016
I. Love. Mervin.
September 27, 2016
Great book!
September 28, 2016
So cute! Sloths are pretty popular right now and this book uses them just right. I also love how the words and speech bubbles interact.
October 21, 2016
A sweet picture book about Marvin, and what the best thing in the world really is. For children up to ages 5-6. The book was released on 9/13/16.
October 25, 2016
What is the best thing Mervin the Sloth is going to do? Just wait for it. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews