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Mr. Men #39
Mr. Slow
Will Mr. Slow ever find a job that's as slow-paced as he is?
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 1978
1 person is currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Roger Hargreaves
1,335 books367 followersRoger Hargreaves was a British cartoonist, illustrator and writer of children's books. He created the Mr. Men series, Little Miss series and Timbuctoo series, intended for young readers. The simple and humorous stories, with bold, brightly coloured illustrations, have sales of more than 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 3, 2020
Recently we read Little Miss Chatterbox and she too was trying to find a job. This book was written first, but it’s the 2nd book where a character is trying to find the right job. A lot of the Mr. Men characters make an appearance in this story.
For some reason Mr Slow wants a job driving something. He’s so slow he can’t be a taxi or race car driver. In the end he ends up being a steamroller driver which suits him perfectly with how slow it is.
The nephew enjoyed this despite himself. He also gave this 3 stars. Mr. Slow is not his favorite, but Mr. Funny makes an appearance in this and he loves Mr. Funny. My nephew doesn’t do anything slow, ever. It’s all as fast as you can. So he mostly made fun of Mr. Slow.
For some reason Mr Slow wants a job driving something. He’s so slow he can’t be a taxi or race car driver. In the end he ends up being a steamroller driver which suits him perfectly with how slow it is.
The nephew enjoyed this despite himself. He also gave this 3 stars. Mr. Slow is not his favorite, but Mr. Funny makes an appearance in this and he loves Mr. Funny. My nephew doesn’t do anything slow, ever. It’s all as fast as you can. So he mostly made fun of Mr. Slow.
March 11, 2022
Mr. Slow was the final character that Roger Hargreaves would write for his popular children's book series before his early death, so it was subsequently the last book that I had in my collection as a boy.
His son Adam would later add to the series.
One of the fun elements of this title is that we've already met Mr. Slow in the previous, his adventure with Mr. Busy is nicely mentioned.
The rest of the story follows him trying to find a job that doesn't clash with his leisurely nature.
His attempt at reading the news taking 3 hours was rather amusing!
The plot is very much a repeat of earlier books (like Mr. Bump and Mr. Small) where he eventually finds a roles that suited him, but it's still a nice message that each young reader has there own special skill which they can thrive with.
His son Adam would later add to the series.
One of the fun elements of this title is that we've already met Mr. Slow in the previous, his adventure with Mr. Busy is nicely mentioned.
The rest of the story follows him trying to find a job that doesn't clash with his leisurely nature.
His attempt at reading the news taking 3 hours was rather amusing!
The plot is very much a repeat of earlier books (like Mr. Bump and Mr. Small) where he eventually finds a roles that suited him, but it's still a nice message that each young reader has there own special skill which they can thrive with.
March 19, 2017
Not Everybody wants to Live in the Fast Lane
19 March 2017
Can you believe it. I read Mr Busy, which is about how Mr Busy and Mr Slow go on a picnic and Mr Slow then decides to hide because he likes to take his time doing things and enjoying life, while Mr Busy, like me, tries to cram as much into a day as possible. Well, I go into my study and sure enough, the next Mr Men book sitting on the pile just happens to be Mr Busy. Actually, I'm not entirely sure which one comes first, though I suspect it is Mr Busy because Mr Slow actually talks about the time that he and Mr Busy went on a picnic. However, this story is about Mr Slow, and how he tries to find a place in this world.
Look, I won't go into details, but he does try out a lot of jobs, and the problem is that pretty much all of these jobs need him to be really fast. In fact this seems to be the case with the world in which we live – speed and accuracy are the two things that are valued the most in the business world. Actually, I note that the word business actually contains the word 'busy' (or 'busi'), which suggests that the whole purpose of business is to keep up busy, maybe because if we are busy then we are distracted, and if we are distracted then we aren't going to be in a position to rock the boat. Actually, for most of us we are either busy or poor because if we are rich, and don't have to work, we aren't going to rock the boat because that is going to work against us.
Anyway, the thing about Mr Slow is that he enjoys life, and in fact he has learnt that taking things slow has its benefits. The thing is that I wish I could take things slowly, like spend a lot more time taking in the beauty of the paintings and the sculptures at the Musee D'orsay, or be able to appreciate the weirdness of the art in the Tate Modern. However the problem is that time gets away from us, and before we know it we wake up, we are fifty, and we are wondering what happened to that time between when we were running amok as teenagers and now.
The same goes with books, but the thing with books is that there are so many out there that I simply don't have the time to not only read, but to enjoy, them all. Mind you, there is always the problem of finding a good book and finding a bad book, and with people like me, I simply cannot put a bad, or a boring, book down until I have finished it. It is the same with movies – I can't stop watching a movie until I get to the end, no matter how boring it happens to be. Mind you, that probably has a lot to do with me not being qualified to write a review until I have finished reading the book or watching the movie.
At least Mr Men books are short, sharp, and shiny. However, we should all be like Mr Slow and instead of burning through our dinners and our desert, that we should take our time and really savour the taste.
19 March 2017
Can you believe it. I read Mr Busy, which is about how Mr Busy and Mr Slow go on a picnic and Mr Slow then decides to hide because he likes to take his time doing things and enjoying life, while Mr Busy, like me, tries to cram as much into a day as possible. Well, I go into my study and sure enough, the next Mr Men book sitting on the pile just happens to be Mr Busy. Actually, I'm not entirely sure which one comes first, though I suspect it is Mr Busy because Mr Slow actually talks about the time that he and Mr Busy went on a picnic. However, this story is about Mr Slow, and how he tries to find a place in this world.
Look, I won't go into details, but he does try out a lot of jobs, and the problem is that pretty much all of these jobs need him to be really fast. In fact this seems to be the case with the world in which we live – speed and accuracy are the two things that are valued the most in the business world. Actually, I note that the word business actually contains the word 'busy' (or 'busi'), which suggests that the whole purpose of business is to keep up busy, maybe because if we are busy then we are distracted, and if we are distracted then we aren't going to be in a position to rock the boat. Actually, for most of us we are either busy or poor because if we are rich, and don't have to work, we aren't going to rock the boat because that is going to work against us.
Anyway, the thing about Mr Slow is that he enjoys life, and in fact he has learnt that taking things slow has its benefits. The thing is that I wish I could take things slowly, like spend a lot more time taking in the beauty of the paintings and the sculptures at the Musee D'orsay, or be able to appreciate the weirdness of the art in the Tate Modern. However the problem is that time gets away from us, and before we know it we wake up, we are fifty, and we are wondering what happened to that time between when we were running amok as teenagers and now.
The same goes with books, but the thing with books is that there are so many out there that I simply don't have the time to not only read, but to enjoy, them all. Mind you, there is always the problem of finding a good book and finding a bad book, and with people like me, I simply cannot put a bad, or a boring, book down until I have finished it. It is the same with movies – I can't stop watching a movie until I get to the end, no matter how boring it happens to be. Mind you, that probably has a lot to do with me not being qualified to write a review until I have finished reading the book or watching the movie.
At least Mr Men books are short, sharp, and shiny. However, we should all be like Mr Slow and instead of burning through our dinners and our desert, that we should take our time and really savour the taste.
February 4, 2018
Mr slow goes on a quest to find a job, however the suggestions he follows don’t suit him at all! It would appear painfully obvious to all but the most inept that Mr Slow would make a terrible race car driver! Or speed boat driver! And yet he attempts it, against all odds. And fails miserably. I think Mr Slow would fare better as a meditation teacher. Or, if worse comes to worst, he could always get a job at the DMV...
September 28, 2015
Ah, Mr Men and Little Miss, how wonderful you are!
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
These books made up so much of my childhood. No matter what I would go ahead and pick one up. I worked my way through them all a couple of times. Each one has a wonderful story for the child to engage with, each character being fun to read.
Everyone has a bias for their favourite character, yet every book is delightful.
March 31, 2015
Think I’m right in stating that as a boy I had all the pre-1990 Mr Men books with the possible exception of “Mr Snow”. Looking at all the covers apart from the latter jogged my memory.
Sadly I remember little about the stories now, despite reading them numerous times during my boyhood, plus watching the Mr Men cartoons more than once.
Reckon the last time I would’ve read these was 1983, though may have returned to them as late as 1985. Although I’ve forgotten almost everything about this title and all the others I feel that owing to the amount of times I read each publication that they all deserve to be rated five stars.
I’m grateful to Roger Hargreaves for brightening up my childhood with both his Mr Men and the Timbuctoo series of books.
Sadly I remember little about the stories now, despite reading them numerous times during my boyhood, plus watching the Mr Men cartoons more than once.
Reckon the last time I would’ve read these was 1983, though may have returned to them as late as 1985. Although I’ve forgotten almost everything about this title and all the others I feel that owing to the amount of times I read each publication that they all deserve to be rated five stars.
I’m grateful to Roger Hargreaves for brightening up my childhood with both his Mr Men and the Timbuctoo series of books.
January 18, 2010
Not one of the better books in the series. It feels almost as if he's reached the name Mr Slow amongst a list of possible books and then halfheartedly tried to come up with a story.
Why you'd be taking career advice off Mr Mischief anyway I'm not sure: perhaps Mr Slow is slow in more than one way?
Quite why he's out to carve a career path isn't really explored. Plenty of the other Mr Men have no discernable jobs.
There could have been far funnier jobs too: snail wrangler, an aerobic instructor for sloths etc
Better ones to come I hope....
Why you'd be taking career advice off Mr Mischief anyway I'm not sure: perhaps Mr Slow is slow in more than one way?
Quite why he's out to carve a career path isn't really explored. Plenty of the other Mr Men have no discernable jobs.
There could have been far funnier jobs too: snail wrangler, an aerobic instructor for sloths etc
Better ones to come I hope....
August 18, 2013
I absolutely loved these Mr Men and Little Miss books. I remember getting them from my granny every week. There was so much from these simple characters, I remember filling my little bookshelf with all these books making sure I had got them all in right order. I wish I still had these books but somehow most of them got lost with many house moves or my mum gave the rest away. If I ever have kids, I will make sure they get the chance to experience these wonderful, colourful books.
July 1, 2015
Synopsis: "Will Mr. Slow ever find a job that's as slow-paced as he is?"
My Review: I was really hoping there would be something in this book to encourage pokey little munchkin to pick up the pace, but I was mistaken. Instead this book was about finding something to fit Mr. Slow's pace of life. Munchkin did enjoy when I mimicked Mr. Slow's talking but other than that he didn't really pay attention to this book.
My Review: I was really hoping there would be something in this book to encourage pokey little munchkin to pick up the pace, but I was mistaken. Instead this book was about finding something to fit Mr. Slow's pace of life. Munchkin did enjoy when I mimicked Mr. Slow's talking but other than that he didn't really pay attention to this book.
December 31, 2018
Slow down and enjoy Mr Men even if you are doing a Mr Men Marathon! Well anyway it is time for Mr Slow and his hunt for the perfect career. It is nice to see the Mr Men not welching off society and working!! Ha ha waiting for some geezer to comment on that, I'm sure it could become a political slogan - Me Men work why not you!!
Anyway more fun to be had here even if it is a fast read about Mr Slow.
Anyway more fun to be had here even if it is a fast read about Mr Slow.
February 28, 2020
6 year old says... I think it's really funny that Mr Slow becomes a steamroller driver and runs over Mr Happy making him a happy pancake. Then eats him with Nutella.
40 year old says... Okay, maybe - just maybe - I got a little creative with this story. But in my defence, Mr Happy is sticking his nose in other people's stories. He needs to watch out incase someone hits him in the face with a hammer (like they did to Mr Nosey). So, whilst I don't normally encourage running people over with a steamroller, if it means that this is the last we see of Mr Happy in these books, then cool bananas.
40 year old says... Okay, maybe - just maybe - I got a little creative with this story. But in my defence, Mr Happy is sticking his nose in other people's stories. He needs to watch out incase someone hits him in the face with a hammer (like they did to Mr Nosey). So, whilst I don't normally encourage running people over with a steamroller, if it means that this is the last we see of Mr Happy in these books, then cool bananas.
February 12, 2020
What Mr Slow lacks is speed. What he hates is speed and being rushed and fussed. This installation is about him looking for a job. His slowness in getting things done did not do him any favors. He has to look harder, try harder and eventually, he landed himself a job that requires him doing things repeatedly and in a very slow manner.
November 8, 2019
As is the case with other Mr. Men books, it's a cute read about embracing your true self.
April 26, 2020
Why does his job have to be driving? Does he have no other skills?
November 15, 2020
I think they were struggling a bit for an idea here, the build up was funny but the punch line was a let down. The illustrations were funny.
January 19, 2021
Funny Funny book :)
January 19, 2021
Mr slow was great too
January 29, 2021
A slow burn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2021
Read Fast!
September 25, 2021
Third book I've read in this series about ppl finding a job to suit their needs. This world is sadly capitalistic.
November 6, 2021
This is a typical mr. men book. It got the kids trying to think of an answer to me. Slow’s dilemma before one was provided, which was good.
December 26, 2021
I’m basically the opposite of Mr. Slow. I guess I’d be more like Mr. Fast, if he exists.
January 11, 2022
A nice brisk read.
April 7, 2025
M. Lent est vraiment lent.
August 1, 2025
Mr Slow is on the hunt for a job that suits his capability. A funny read.
August 4, 2025
Same as the others
April 29, 2019
Over and over and over again.... I read these stories to my first daughter and then to my second daughter.
They loved them... they laughed... i love my daughters... i laughed with them....that was more than enough for me.
They loved them... they laughed... i love my daughters... i laughed with them....that was more than enough for me.
July 28, 2011
Not one of the better ones: it's pretty tedious reading it slowly as demanded by the story when all you want to do is observe parental obligations and get the little ratbag tucked into bed asap. So I try and leave this one at the bottom of the Mr Men pile.
November 4, 2016
A not very quick Mr Man tries to find a suitable job.
I thought this was a good short story and the artwork was simple but amusing. The moral of the story, there is a job / place / role for everyone, was decent.
I thought this was a good short story and the artwork was simple but amusing. The moral of the story, there is a job / place / role for everyone, was decent.
June 16, 2008
Slow and steady wins the race. Mr. Slow doesn't need to hurry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews