It's OK, Slow Lizard

Product Description
In a lush, sun-dappled forest, animal friends discover the advantages of living slowly, in this soothing picture book from beloved South Korean author and illustrator Yeorim Yoon and Jian Kim.
Little Bird is all aflutter―too many things to do. Elephant cries with frustration when a shoelace breaks. Rabbit tries so hard and loses the race anyway. But what about Slow Lizard?
Just like my name, I live a slow, relaxed life.
And because I live a slow life,
I see many things,
I hear many things,
and I have lots of time to help my friends.
Meandering through a sunny forest, Slow Lizard’s friends learn how wonderful it is to slow down together. Filled with blooming trees and fluffy flower beds, It’s OK, Slow Lizard glows with the beauty of a hidden magic world, where we take the time to help each other enjoy life―even when the rain comes.
From School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-This is a book in two parts. In the first half of the book, Slow Lizard introduces us to his friends. He describes scenarios that arise as a result of each anthropomorphized character's personality traits: Elephant has a short temper, Rabbit rushes without paying attention, and so on. Slow Lizard is a patient, mindful friend. Halfway through the book, he wonders if his friends are as happy to have him around as he is to have them. However, the book does not explore that doubt. In the second half, the animals set off on a journey to gather apples before a storm arrives. Each friend has a strength: Elephant helps carry large loads, Rabbit knows the way through the brush, and so on. Through their combined efforts, they make it home safe and dry, basket of apples in tow. The animals live in a world created by the most ebullient of colored pencils, with green plants, purple lilacs, and bright red apples. Most scenes are viewed from a comfortable middle distance, although one ingenious spread shows a first-person view of fluffy clouds seen through a hole in a leaf. Elephant is a friendly yellow, Little Bird is a bubbly blue. Slow Lizard resembles a frog head on a tiny dinosaur body in gentle green. VERDICT A look at the dynamics of friendship helps set this apart in a growing collection of mindfulness books, and the illustrations are worth getting lost in. Recommended for larger collections.-Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
“Kim’s rich colored-pencil illustrations, in a sweet pastel palette, portray the adorable friend group enjoying tea, apples, and picture books with peaceful smiles in their forest home. Readers and nonreaders alike will surely love quietly enjoying the lovingly rendered, abundant details in the combination of full spreads, Slow Lizard and Little Bird’s teatime on giant, pillowy peonies, in particular. Comforting as a cup of flower tea shared with a friend.”
―Kirkus Reviews\n“With lovely illustrations, tons of warmth, and even more heart, this book shines with friendship and the secret to truly enjoying life.”
―Tonja Drecker, Bookworm for Kids\n“Textural illustrations in soft colors depict the narrative in spreads that invite long pauses, emphasizing Slow Lizard's mindfulness…. The reassuring, encouraging narrative has a gentle tone, and the closing point, that ‘rain will always stop, and the sky will always clear up,’ is a useful one for kids experiencing big emotions. A quiet book with a meaningful message, winsomely told.”
―Shelle Rosenfeld, Booklist\n“Together, Yoon's soothing prose, Jian Kim's winsome spreads, and Chi-Young Kim's crisp translation create a comforting, multi-layered literary gift to return to for many years (decades!) to come.”
―Terry Hong, Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
Review
“I was peaceful and cozy reading this beautifully illustrated picture book about a group of animals helping each other be calm. The pace is pleasingly slow, almost