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Sleepy Mr Sloth

A repeated refrain, gentle humor and a restful ending make an inviting bedtime read.

Suggested age: 0–3岁 · Reading level L1 · 12 illustrated pages

Mr Sloth is sleepy and yawning.

Read and listen

This book can be read page by page, heard with synthetic Voice 7 narration, downloaded and printed. Enable JavaScript for the interactive reader, or open the story pages below.

A repeated refrain, gentle humor and a restful ending make an inviting bedtime read.

Read all 12 story pages
Mr Sloth is sleepy and yawning.
One day, Mr Sloth came to visit. He said:

I’m sleepy! I need a good branch for a bed!
Mr Sloth starts climbing the tree.
I’m quite good at climbing. I know how to swing.

But sleeping’s my favourite, favourite thing!
Mr Sloth spots a branch. Is that a big ear nearby?
This branch looks lovely! I think I’ll sleep here.

And you? Don’t you think that’s a splendid idea?
A giraffe bites Mr Sloth by mistake!
Oh no, Mr Sloth! A giraffe’s eating there!

He might think you’re lunch and start nibbling your hair!
Mr Sloth spots a branch. There are a few bees flying around.
This branch looks lovely! I think I’ll sleep here.

And you? Don’t you think that’s a splendid idea?
Bees fly out of a beehive around Mr Sloth!
Oh no, Mr Sloth! There’s a beehive right there!

You’ll never get sleep with those bees everywhere!
Mr Sloth spots a branch. There is a tail nearby.
This branch looks lovely! I think I’ll sleep here.

And you? Don’t you think that’s a splendid idea?
Mr Sloth grabs snake by mistake!
Oh no, Mr Sloth, that’s a snake over there!

Not a branch! Poor old snake. You gave him quite a scare.
Mr Sloth spots a branch. There are feet nearby.
This branch looks lovely! I think I’ll sleep here.

And you? Don’t you think that’s a splendid idea?
A hadeda is squawking loudly there!
Oh no, Mr Sloth! There’s a bird squawking there!

You’ll never get sleep with that noise in the air!
Mr Sloth climbs to the top of the tree and smiles.
Try climb one more branch, Mr Sloth! they all said.

And that branch was just the right one for his bed.
Mr Sloth and the animals are all sleeping nicely in the tree together.
The bird and the snake, the giraffe and each bee

were happy to have Mr Sloth in their tree.

Creators and open license

Created by
Graham Paterson, Paul Kennedy, Nick Mulgrew

Source: Book Dash
Original: Sleepy Mr Sloth from Book Dash
License: CC BY 4.0

Original story text and illustrations unchanged. Website and printable layout prepared by Little Leaf; age, reading level and recommendation are editorial suggestions. Web and printable layout adapted by Little Leaf. Age and reading-level suggestions are editorial. Original stories and artwork belong to their credited creators. Website narration uses the selected synthetic Voice 7.