The Slowest Book Ever

Gr 3–7—Science and nature rub shoulders with pop culture and history in Sayre's ode to slowness. Brief entries are loosely organized around topics such as plants, the body, and geology and describe the hows and whys. From Great Basin bristlecone pine trees that can live 3,200 years to television stations that show 12 uninterrupted hours of firewood burning, the examples that Sayre presents offer plenty of opportunity to readers to slow down, take a second look at things that might otherwise be overlooked, and think about some chewier topics, both big and small but always slow. The tone is humorous but never silly, and the facts are backed up with sources and more details in the endnotes. The light tone and engaging writing are perfectly complemented by the pen-and-ink drawings that accompany every entry, and the design invites lingering and sharing.