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Slow Moe
Life moves oh-so-slow when your little brother is a snail.
It takes forever to do anything! Really, it’s enough to test the patience of even the most understanding big sister. But is Moe just slow or is there something else going on? Award-winning author Deborah Kerbel has written a delightful story about love, support and the struggle for tolerance within the often tumultuous sibling relationship.
Orca Book Publishers is pleased to offer Slow Moe in two accessible editions. The audiobook features alternate text descriptions of images, including the cover. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
It takes forever to do anything! Really, it’s enough to test the patience of even the most understanding big sister. But is Moe just slow or is there something else going on? Award-winning author Deborah Kerbel has written a delightful story about love, support and the struggle for tolerance within the often tumultuous sibling relationship.
Orca Book Publishers is pleased to offer Slow Moe in two accessible editions. The audiobook features alternate text descriptions of images, including the cover. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Audible Audio
Published March 29, 2024
About the author
Deborah Kerbel
46 books216 followersDeborah Kerbel was born in London, England, but grew up in Toronto, Canada.
A finalist for the 2012 Governor General's Literary Award, the 2010 Canadian Library Association YA Book of the Year Award, 2019 Blue Spruce Award Honour Book, and winner of the 2020 IODE Jean Throop Book Award, Deborah is the author of ten books for young readers of all ages.
Currently, Deborah lives and writes in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, two book loving teens, and a schnoodle named Fred.
Visit her at www.deborahkerbel.ca
A finalist for the 2012 Governor General's Literary Award, the 2010 Canadian Library Association YA Book of the Year Award, 2019 Blue Spruce Award Honour Book, and winner of the 2020 IODE Jean Throop Book Award, Deborah is the author of ten books for young readers of all ages.
Currently, Deborah lives and writes in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, two book loving teens, and a schnoodle named Fred.
Visit her at www.deborahkerbel.ca
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 7, 2020
Slow Moe by Deborah Kerbel is a cute book about tolerance.
Ah, the metaphor. The little brother in this story is super slow, a.k.a. a snail! She loves her brother, but man can he be annoying!
This book is super cute and a great way to educate siblings about tolerance and learning to live with the little annoyances of life. I love the use of words like lollygagger, because it's a funny word that is also so true! I don't think all age groups will get the metaphor of the brother not actually being a snail, but I still think this is an excellent book. I think a younger audience will love the colours and fun of the story, but grade two and up might understand the snail reference.
The illustrations are also super cute, bright and colourful. That made for a very appealing book!
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Ah, the metaphor. The little brother in this story is super slow, a.k.a. a snail! She loves her brother, but man can he be annoying!
This book is super cute and a great way to educate siblings about tolerance and learning to live with the little annoyances of life. I love the use of words like lollygagger, because it's a funny word that is also so true! I don't think all age groups will get the metaphor of the brother not actually being a snail, but I still think this is an excellent book. I think a younger audience will love the colours and fun of the story, but grade two and up might understand the snail reference.
The illustrations are also super cute, bright and colourful. That made for a very appealing book!
Three out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Books for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
June 30, 2020
I guess this book has an audience, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. It's basically about a kid who manipulates the adults around him, and the older sister who enables the behaviour (even though it bothers her, too).
Moe is so slow that his sister views him as a snail. But he's actually only a snail when he's being asked to do things he doesn't want to do. Otherwise, he's a fast kid. The girl thinks her parents haven't noticed that he's actually a kid. She decides to keep the secret because she loves him.
I don't like the message here. Not that the girl should be tattling on her brother or anything, but enabling his disobedience and passive-aggressive behaviour doesn't seem like a healthy thing to do, either.
The pictures are okay. The colour palette is a bit muted, with lots of greens, golds, and browns. They work well enough, but I didn't find them particularly interesting.
This could've been really funny if the message had been tweaked. As it is, though, it made me a bit uncomfortable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.
Moe is so slow that his sister views him as a snail. But he's actually only a snail when he's being asked to do things he doesn't want to do. Otherwise, he's a fast kid. The girl thinks her parents haven't noticed that he's actually a kid. She decides to keep the secret because she loves him.
I don't like the message here. Not that the girl should be tattling on her brother or anything, but enabling his disobedience and passive-aggressive behaviour doesn't seem like a healthy thing to do, either.
The pictures are okay. The colour palette is a bit muted, with lots of greens, golds, and browns. They work well enough, but I didn't find them particularly interesting.
This could've been really funny if the message had been tweaked. As it is, though, it made me a bit uncomfortable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.
May 27, 2020
*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Slow Moe is a cute book that is a great fit for kids who have siblings. The illustrations are beautiful and bright, and the book has a fun, airy feel to it. The main device of the story is that a little girl's brother is an annoying "snail" because he takes his time eating breakfast, walking to school, etc. However, he turns into a fun, energetic human brother when adults and obligations aren't around! It might be a bit difficult for really young kids to initially "get" the metaphor of the brother being a snail, but it's a good lesson about patience and tolerance. Personally, I found the transition from snail-brother to human-brother a bit clunky. I had to read through it twice to clearly understand the flow of the story. But, it's a sweet story with excellent artwork.
Slow Moe is a cute book that is a great fit for kids who have siblings. The illustrations are beautiful and bright, and the book has a fun, airy feel to it. The main device of the story is that a little girl's brother is an annoying "snail" because he takes his time eating breakfast, walking to school, etc. However, he turns into a fun, energetic human brother when adults and obligations aren't around! It might be a bit difficult for really young kids to initially "get" the metaphor of the brother being a snail, but it's a good lesson about patience and tolerance. Personally, I found the transition from snail-brother to human-brother a bit clunky. I had to read through it twice to clearly understand the flow of the story. But, it's a sweet story with excellent artwork.
May 6, 2020
This was cute, sweet story about a young girl and he brother. The whole book centers around this metaphor of the brother Moe being like a snail. It seems that to the sister the things he does are peculiar and not what a kid should do (be slow, take his time). The text is nice and lends itself to a good read-aloud. I really enjoyed the illustrations. The color palette is really lovely. All characters present white. A nice sibling tale. #Netgalley
June 17, 2020
I wanted to like this book. I'll be honest, I didn't read the description. I just saw that there was a cute snail on the cover and thought it was about a really slow snail. When I found out it wasn't, I was a little disappointed. While reading the book, I then thought it might be one of those kid's books that explain autism or another type of special need to children. I was expecting to find a page in the back of the book that might explain Moe's condition and give information on it. However, this wasn't the case. It was never explained why Moe was slow, just that he was. I guess that's ok, but I think there was a missed opportunity to educate.
I'm still disappointed it wasn't about a slow snail.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm still disappointed it wasn't about a slow snail.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2022
I read some of the reviews on here and wanted to offer a different perspective.
Children dawdle sometimes, and that’s okay. As adults, we’re always rushing from one thing to the next and we never have time to just slow down and enjoy the moment or to take in our surroundings. As a child, it is a novelty to be unburdened by adult problems and just enjoy the little things.
Children dawdle sometimes, and that’s okay. As adults, we’re always rushing from one thing to the next and we never have time to just slow down and enjoy the moment or to take in our surroundings. As a child, it is a novelty to be unburdened by adult problems and just enjoy the little things.
May 9, 2020
Slow Moe is a story about a little boy who is very slow to do things when they are day to day things that are not fun, like eating. However, when fun things like a game of tag come about, Moe is speedy and quick. I was really hoping for a lesson at the end of the story, but it is a book about acceptance and appreciating people for who they are.
May 27, 2020
Do you have a slowpoke in your family? You know the person who can never seem to get things done quickly, who doesn’t like to rush.
Deborah Kerbel has hilariously highlighted the plight of the slow poke in her new story Slow Moe illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. Moe is a snail and he’s also a little brother driving his big sister crazy because he is SO slow! The funny thing is, when there are no grown ups around her turns into a kid: a running, jumpin, swinging kid. Even though it’s frustrating to have a snail/younger brother in the family the narrator still loves him.
Deborah Kerbel has cleverly taken the sometimes frustrating slow poke in the family and put a very smart spin on them. Sometimes they just need to take their time and contemplate to get themselves moving. We all have different quirks, things that drive our siblings or parents a little bit bonkers (especially now as we are having to spend all the livelong day with each other) but in the end we still love each other because we are family after all. Slow Moe is traditional in its depictions of family: mom, dad, sister, brother and could lead to a great discussion of family and how all families are different, some even have snails for siblings.
Marianne Ferrer’s illustrations are fantastic. They are colourful and full of hidden surprises as you look at each page. You get subtle hints that Moe may not actually be a snail after all
Deborah Kerbel has hilariously highlighted the plight of the slow poke in her new story Slow Moe illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. Moe is a snail and he’s also a little brother driving his big sister crazy because he is SO slow! The funny thing is, when there are no grown ups around her turns into a kid: a running, jumpin, swinging kid. Even though it’s frustrating to have a snail/younger brother in the family the narrator still loves him.
Deborah Kerbel has cleverly taken the sometimes frustrating slow poke in the family and put a very smart spin on them. Sometimes they just need to take their time and contemplate to get themselves moving. We all have different quirks, things that drive our siblings or parents a little bit bonkers (especially now as we are having to spend all the livelong day with each other) but in the end we still love each other because we are family after all. Slow Moe is traditional in its depictions of family: mom, dad, sister, brother and could lead to a great discussion of family and how all families are different, some even have snails for siblings.
Marianne Ferrer’s illustrations are fantastic. They are colourful and full of hidden surprises as you look at each page. You get subtle hints that Moe may not actually be a snail after all
July 23, 2020
Not a Good Message; Illustrations So-So
According to the publisher in a note at the front of the book, this book is supposed to be about sibling tolerance. That's not quite the message I took away from it. Despite the illustration on the cover, this is not about an actual snail. Rather, a big sister sees her little brother as being slow, so she thinks of him as a snail. The bulk of the book shows her being annoyed by her brother's slowness, but toward the end of the book, she reveals that not only is he a kid—all the illustrations had shown him as a snail—but he can be very fast when he wants when adults aren't around. So, essentially, he only acts slow to avoid doing what he doesn't want to do. The older sister decides to keep his secret. The whole thing came across as very odd. Is the author suggesting that siblings should encourage bad behavior in each other? Is that what constitutes tolerance, accepting that your sibling acts in ways that he or she should not? That seems to be a bad message for kids! The illustrations had a slightly muted palette, but I thought the ones that were full two-page spreads had enough going on to be interesting. I didn't find the single pages in this somewhat uninteresting palette to be as good, probably because there was not as much going on. All in all, I was not impressed by this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
According to the publisher in a note at the front of the book, this book is supposed to be about sibling tolerance. That's not quite the message I took away from it. Despite the illustration on the cover, this is not about an actual snail. Rather, a big sister sees her little brother as being slow, so she thinks of him as a snail. The bulk of the book shows her being annoyed by her brother's slowness, but toward the end of the book, she reveals that not only is he a kid—all the illustrations had shown him as a snail—but he can be very fast when he wants when adults aren't around. So, essentially, he only acts slow to avoid doing what he doesn't want to do. The older sister decides to keep his secret. The whole thing came across as very odd. Is the author suggesting that siblings should encourage bad behavior in each other? Is that what constitutes tolerance, accepting that your sibling acts in ways that he or she should not? That seems to be a bad message for kids! The illustrations had a slightly muted palette, but I thought the ones that were full two-page spreads had enough going on to be interesting. I didn't find the single pages in this somewhat uninteresting palette to be as good, probably because there was not as much going on. All in all, I was not impressed by this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
May 22, 2020
Review originally from here: https://ashlynmadani.wixsite.com/them...
What would you do if your sibling was as slow as a snail? In Slow Moe, the narrator, a girl, has a younger brother who is a snail. Moe is so annoying because of how slow he is. He takes his time eating breakfast. He likes to stop to look at things on his way to school, so they are almost always late. But, Moe has a secret identity. When grown-ups aren't around, he is actually a kid who really fast and a lot of fun to play with. His sister will keep his secret though because she loves him.
The first time I read this story, I thought it was a little strange. However, after I reread it, I thought it was cute. The illustrations were great. You have to look closely to see that Moe is actually a kid at the beginning of the book. I think kids will enjoy this book because it is a fun and silly read. The message in this story is to love your family even if they can be annoying I would recommend Slow Moe for children ages 3 to 7, especially if they have siblings.
I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What would you do if your sibling was as slow as a snail? In Slow Moe, the narrator, a girl, has a younger brother who is a snail. Moe is so annoying because of how slow he is. He takes his time eating breakfast. He likes to stop to look at things on his way to school, so they are almost always late. But, Moe has a secret identity. When grown-ups aren't around, he is actually a kid who really fast and a lot of fun to play with. His sister will keep his secret though because she loves him.
The first time I read this story, I thought it was a little strange. However, after I reread it, I thought it was cute. The illustrations were great. You have to look closely to see that Moe is actually a kid at the beginning of the book. I think kids will enjoy this book because it is a fun and silly read. The message in this story is to love your family even if they can be annoying I would recommend Slow Moe for children ages 3 to 7, especially if they have siblings.
I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2020
"Slow Moe" is the story of a young kid who is more snail-like when it comes to his speed. His sister is constantly waiting for him and telling him to hurry up. Brushing teeth, cleaning up... all of these daily tasks are done at a painfully slow speed. Will Slow Moe ever move faster?
This book is adorable! As a parent reading this story to my school age kids, I enjoyed the tale just as much as they did! The illustrations are great and the concept is clever! This book is a great one for siblings to read together! We loved "Slow Moe" as we definitely have children that can identify with the main character!
This book is adorable! As a parent reading this story to my school age kids, I enjoyed the tale just as much as they did! The illustrations are great and the concept is clever! This book is a great one for siblings to read together! We loved "Slow Moe" as we definitely have children that can identify with the main character!
June 4, 2020
Review copy provided by NetGalley
This is a funny book, one that I'm sure many of my students could resonate with. It's also a story whose metaphors are excellent, capturing the essence of the entire story perfectly. I would happily share this book with the children in my school. I'm sure they would enjoy it. My personal favorite piece of this story is when it is revealed that Moe is only a snail sometimes and the rest of the time, he's almost unrecognizably fast and energetic. In all, this book is a delightful treat that both children and the adults that share it with them will enjoy.
This is a funny book, one that I'm sure many of my students could resonate with. It's also a story whose metaphors are excellent, capturing the essence of the entire story perfectly. I would happily share this book with the children in my school. I'm sure they would enjoy it. My personal favorite piece of this story is when it is revealed that Moe is only a snail sometimes and the rest of the time, he's almost unrecognizably fast and energetic. In all, this book is a delightful treat that both children and the adults that share it with them will enjoy.
June 6, 2020
Her little brother is a SNAIL and she hates it! Specifically the fact that he isn't always a snail, just when grown ups are around and he has to do something he doesn't want to do... like get out of bed, or go to school, or clean his room.
The illustrations are very charming and I love the design for Moe the snail. This is a little silly but, for a concept like this, I think it could have been even better if it was goofier. Worth a read but not one I am going to keep coming back to over and over.
The illustrations are very charming and I love the design for Moe the snail. This is a little silly but, for a concept like this, I think it could have been even better if it was goofier. Worth a read but not one I am going to keep coming back to over and over.
May 7, 2020
Slow Moe is absolutely adorable. Little brothers can be so annoying especially when they move as slow as a snail! Deborah Kerbel's story about a sibling relationship is cute as can be. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous! I read the digital ARC to my daughter and she was enthralled by the artwork. We will definitely be adding a physical copy to her bookshelf!
Thanks to Netgalley and Orca Books for the ARC!
Thanks to Netgalley and Orca Books for the ARC!
February 5, 2021
Do you know someone who seems to take forever to do their chores? In this picture book, a girl imagines her brother as a snail named "Slow Moe." The illustrations of a giant snail in a variety of household situations are funny. However, as other reviews note, this story also seems to encourage or at least excuse intentionally bad behavior that slows down the entire family, so parents should be aware of this aspect.
May 7, 2020
This is a cute story about an annoying little brother, told through the eyes of his big sister. Little brother is annoying, and slow like a snail, but he is hiding a secret! When the adults aren't around, he is a kid! My kids (ages 5 and 7) enjoyed this story and could relate to the sibling relationship depicted in the story. Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley. .
July 18, 2023
The first half of the book is a long complaint of a sister about her annoyingly slow little brother who drags his feet any time someone asks him to do something. Then we find out that when adults aren't around, he's super-fast. Sounds like a kid who likes to manipulate. This one wasn't for me because of the message and lack of tension/story. The art is cute, though.
May 19, 2020
A beautifully and charming book about loving the quirks of your sibling. I absolutely loved the artwork done in this book and found it to be so adorable. The main theme is great and honestly an overall charming read!
October 11, 2020
Life can be frustrating when your brother is a snail- he's slow, slimy, and annoying. However, he's also hiding a secret! The question is do you spill his secret or help him hide it. This book is cute, and perfect for kids who have that annoying younger brother.
October 7, 2021
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one wasn't for me. From the cover I thought it was going to be one I really liked. But this one fell short for me. The illustrations were the only t hings I somewhat enjoyed.
This one wasn't for me. From the cover I thought it was going to be one I really liked. But this one fell short for me. The illustrations were the only t hings I somewhat enjoyed.
May 30, 2020
Overall this book was cute. It's about a kid that moves as slow as a snail when there's something he doesnt want to do. Not much to the story though.
Want to Read
June 8, 2020Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 20, 2020
This is a fun and funny book. I think the kids would like it as a read-aloud because they'd ask a million questions.
June 22, 2020
Very cute story about a brother that is a snail except when he's not :)
This would be a fun book for story time.
This would be a fun book for story time.
August 4, 2021
Wow, do I see my brother and myself in this sibling relationship! While the twist was evident to me as an adult reader, I think kids will really enjoy it.
September 19, 2021
Loved it! Too cute!
December 12, 2022
What even was that story?
The art was nice, though.
The art was nice, though.
December 16, 2022
slightly confusing premise, IS THE BOY A SNAIL or not...? LOL ok he is not but it is just a funny thought
May 18, 2023
This is a sibling story, older sister and younger brother. It didn’t really impress me as a title I would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews