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The Story

A little girl is happy to go on a walk with Grandma, but Grandma is such a slowpoke! She stops to point out, listen, or observe the different creatures that they meet, sharing her knowledge with the child. At the river, it is the little girl who spots a muskrat that Grandma didn't see.

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Grandma Is a Slowpoke is a simple story that delivers a joyous message to young readers—let us pause, stop, and be present with the creatures around us. Janet Halfmann's delightful story encourages children to observe nature. Michele Coxon's beautiful fine color art brings life to the creatures on each page, and makes the animals so endearing.

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My Inspiration

I have loved animals and nature since growing up on a farm in Michigan. Grandma Is a Slowpoke was inspired by my walks with my grandchildren.

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Educational Connections

Curriculum connections: Language arts, observing nature and how animals care for each other, comparing animals and their behavior, environment, recognizing animal homes, vocabulary development, noticing details,  healthy living, family relationship, appreciation of nature

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Reviews

"Halfmann's nature walk from a child's perspective is spot-on, neatly capturing the grandparent-grandchild dynamic . . . A sweet celebration of intergenerational slowpokery."—Kirkus Reviews 

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"By the end of their excursion, grandmother and child have spotted a group of rabbits clustered around daisies, muskrats in a stream, and more, and the girl understands that being a 'slowpoke' actually means treasuring each moment . . . Halfmann gracefully delivers a message about living in the moment."—Publishers Weekly

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"This book perfectly illustrates the cultivation of empathy and place-based connectivity to the natural world from one generation to the next . . . As an Environmental Educator, this book literally manifests the principles we hold dear within our profession. Sharing the joy of nature through experience, not lecture."—Sarah Livesay