Slow Days

by D.S. Getson

Some days are fast days – busy days -- “too much to do” days. Some days are slow. On this slow day, Kya and her grandmother explore the seaside, interacting with nature, asking questions and being present in the moment. Kya discovers the best days can be days when very little happens.

32 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Author writes under the penname Denise Getson as well

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

It’s a slow day for Kya. There’s nothing to do around the house, so she asks her grandma what she can do to fix her dilemma. Her grandma suggests she help her find some seaweed for lunch. Kya agrees, and as they spend some time on the beach, she learns the significance of the slow days we spend with those we love.

This was a cute book! I probably say that with every kid book I read, and will more than likely continue to say it because it’s true. 🥰

The illustrations were really pretty, the writing was engaging and easy to understand, and the story was sweet. Also, I think the beauty of slow days is an important message to teach the little ones, especially in this day and age, where we are always in a hurry and you’re not considered successful if you’re not always busy or on the go. It’s important that we give ourselves permission to have days of rest, where we spend some quality time with those we love and do a little something for ourselves that will release stress and bring us joy. ❤

I recommend this book for the kids in your life who would enjoy learning about not only enjoying the little moments, but also what things you can find on the beach! 🐚🦀

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

#SlowDays #NetGalley

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between Nana and Kya is wonderful. They decided to have a slow day. I learned quite a bit and enjoyed this relaxing book. Great illustrations. Highly recommend.

I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley.

[Vrinda's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌊🪸 Slow days on the beach are one of the best feelings! The story follows a little girl spending quality time with her grandmother, and taking in the joys of exploring nature. These are the moments from childhood that remind you of the simple pleasures in life, inspire curiosity and create beautiful memories to cherish with loved ones.

🌊 In a world that moves too fast and has become digitally driven, we forget to stop and enjoy the present moment. We forget to take in the wonders of nature, and engage our curiosity. Having lived by the ocean, on a coastal city for most of my life, I love the beach and spending time in nature. Collecting sea shells, swimming in the ocean, walking barefoot in the sand by the shoreline, listening to the sound of waves and reading a book, observing the birds or sea life, having a picnic, road trips, camping, meditating -some of my most treasured memories are connected with the ocean and spending quality time with family and friends in this way.

🪸 This was a beautiful little illustrated story about slowing down, appreciating the little joys, and connecting with nature. It's an important reminder, especially for children in this technological age, to explore the world around them. The story also brought forth the little wonders of the ocean and sea life for them to learn about.

The choice of font/text could have been enhanced to have more character for a children's story, and be better integrated with the lovely illustrations.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the complementary e-arc of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Melanie M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Days is a gentle, luminous reminder that wonder lives in unhurried moments especially when shared across generations. D.S. Getson captures the quiet magic of a “slow” day through Kya’s seaside walk with her grandmother, Nana, transforming a simple beach outing into an experience rich with curiosity, learning, and connection.

What makes this book especially lovely is how seamlessly it blends warmth with discovery. The natural world becomes a classroom without ever feeling instructional: kelp as algae, the mystery of crab molting, the quiet beauty of sea stars and anemones. Nana’s voice carries both wisdom and playfulness, grounding big ideas like our shared cellular history in a way that feels accessible and comforting for young readers.

At its heart, Slow Days is about permission: permission to move at a child’s pace, to notice small things, and to understand that not every meaningful day needs to be busy or loud. It’s a calming, affirming read that encourages mindfulness, curiosity, and intergenerational bonding.

A perfect book for bedtime, classrooms, or any moment when a child (or adult) needs reassurance that slowing down is not only okay it’s where the best discoveries happen.

Melanie M. Ham
melaniemhamliteracy@gmail.com

[Lila Danisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If definition of slow day is going to the beach and collecting sea creatures, it's not slow day I knew of 😅 Minus 1 star because for me there is nothing about slow days in this book. However, we (my son and I) still enjoyed this book much. I especially loved the illustrations so much. They were in high quality of sharpness and so colorfully vibrant. The illustration in this book is one of my favorites for children's books.
The story of Kya and her grandmother went to beach and Nana (the grandma) started to throwing trivia about sea creatures was freshly educational. Many trivial things I didn't even know about. So, it was not just knowledgeable for my son, but also for me.
The words using in this book were mostly simple enough and I didn't need to simplify it to my son.
The problem raised after I read this book to my son was he wanted to go to the beach and the beach here where we currently lived (West Sumatra, Indonesia) is completely different with the beach in the book 😅

Thank you to D.S. Getson, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Novel Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Days is a calming read, beautifully illustrated children’s book that invites readers to slow down and explore the wonders of the beach. The vivid artwork pairs nicely with gentle storytelling and fun facts about sand dollars, crabs, and other sea life, making it both soothing and educational. The overall tone feels peaceful and unhurried, perfect for quiet reading moments.

I would have liked a bit more consistency in the use of “Nana” versus “Grandmother,” but that small detail didn’t take away from how much I truly enjoyed the story. I recommend this book for children who would enjoy learning about the beach. Great book and I do recommend it.


Thank you to the author, D.S. Getson, for providing me with a free copy through a Goodreads Giveaway.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and gentle story that’s perfect for young readers. It captures what it feels like when a day moves a little slower than usual and how that can turn into something special.

The story is simple, easy to follow, and full of warmth. The language is kid-friendly without talking down to children, and the message about appreciating quiet moments comes through in a natural way. It’s the kind of book that works well for bedtime or classroom reading because it feels calm and comforting.

The illustrations (if included in your edition) pair nicely with the story and help bring the slower, thoughtful mood to life. Overall, it’s a charming book that reminds kids that not every day has to be busy to be meaningful. I received a copy from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kya's having a slow day, and needs something fun to do! Luckily, her Nana is headed to the beach to collect some kelp for their lunch. What starts as a simple trip turns into a wonderful day of bonding, fun, and scientific discovery; from sand dollars to molting crabs, Kya learns about sea life, cells, and more! Best of all, she learns that a slow day is fine as long as she can spend it with her Nana.

This is a sweet and educational read, perfect for curious kiddos who love the ocean or exploring nature in general. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm… A girl called Kya goes to the seashore with her kelp-harvesting gran as she's bored, and gets some most unlikely biology lessons, the end. This has merit in that it tells us why some things are the way they are, and proves that a day that seems a dull and boring one can easily turn into the complete opposite. But I never really believed the interaction between the girl and walking encyclopaedia that is her nan, and so the whole idea of Kya being won over by what happens at the beach just seemed implausible. This is quite pretty, and learned, and means well, but is probably too didactic to be actual fun to read. Two and a half stars, rounded up for the visuals.

[Kuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

A very cute little book about Kya and her grandma, who take a trip to the beach on a slow day. The reader gets to learn a bit about the ocean (such as about how crabs shed their shells to grow bigger ones), as well as a nice and calm vibe, matching the title of Slow Days. The art is also very cute and colourful, perfect for children (and adults like me that like colourful pictures).

One thing I wonder, however, if it was really necessary to talk about boy and girl sea stars? That seemed kind of random.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Days is a beautifully crafted picture book that perfectly captures the magic found in everyday moments. The story of Kya and her grandmother exploring the seaside is a gentle, much-needed reminder for both children and adults to slow down and appreciate the natural world around them. The illustrations are lovely, and the simple, heartwarming message about the value of quiet days and strong family connections really resonates. This book is an absolute delight and a perfect read for a cozy afternoon. Highly recommended!

[Little Batties · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow days by D.S Getson is a lighthearted children's story for all ages. It is brimming with information in a way I wouldn't have expected. This whole story is a mini science lesson, and I can see this being extremely useful in a classroom with younger students (and perhaps even older). I loved that this had a strong sense of family. It was sweet that Kya was not only helping her grandmother through this story, but she was learning from her too. It is a powerful lesson that we can learn a lot from our elders, which is something people can sometimes forget. The little ones are sure to find this interesting, and I can see the people reading it find it fun too.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for giving me an advance copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when it's a boring or slow days? Go to nature. That's why Kya and Nana did and it became an awesome day. It's a subtle way of exploring the ocean shore and loving the facts Nana is sharing. It's not all information dumping but the conversation of this book is good and has heart. What I don't like about this is the discussion inserting evolution. The illustration is good too and enjoyable.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Days by D. S. Getson

Kya is having a slow day and asks her grandma for help. Grandma suggests going to look for kelp for their lunch. Kya finds all different marine life as she and grandma continue their search. There are all things like sand dollars, starfish and more. There is a lesson on each of these items which will entertain any child.
The illustrations are cute and very calming with the use of color.
I recommend this book for story time or school libraries.

[sya ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and comforting read. I really liked how it mixed fun beach facts for younger readers with a gentle reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment. The bond between the grandma and granddaughter is genuinely heartwarming. The artwork is gorgeous too, and the color work makes every page stand out. Overall, it left me with a really cozy feeling.

[Zelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea and the storyline.
It's interesting and can show the connection between grandmother and granddaughter.
I'd say it's quite scientific and would be great to read to children, to also help them learn about creatures.
Recommended for above 5 years old, especially those who love sea, fish, plants, or just love to spend time with their grandparents ;)

[Stephanie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a 18 year old that is 4 mentally. So I am always looking for books that I can read to him that are short and to the point - but keeps his attention.

This book brought it - he enjoyed the story and the photos and was able to answer questions after I finished reading it!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kya thinks today is slow. Upon asking Nana what to do, they go for a walk along the beach. There they see sand dollars, sea stars, and gather kelp for lunch later. This is a sweet story. illustrations are nice and match it quite well.

[Danielle Schutte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read. Cute vibrant pictures. Very cute book teaching kids about ocean life and their own.

[Michelle Welc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the educational component of this story and the message it shares of taking a moment to take appreciation of the little things. Fun read and beautiful artwork.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little book! Slow Days tells the story of a girl and her grandmother spending the day by the sea, and it’s just so peaceful and sweet. The artwork is beautiful — it really pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re right there on the beach. I love how it captures the idea that we can learn from everyday moments and that slowing down can be something special.

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ Children’s Book | Family | Nature

Thank you to BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Slow Days is a sweet and peaceful story that follows Kya and her Nana on a curiosity-filled trip to the beach. As they explore together, Kya discovers shells, creatures, and natural wonders, while her grandmother patiently explains each one to her. It’s a simple narrative that highlights the beauty of slowing down and observing the world with someone you love.

I did notice a printing issue in the ARC, the font appears doubled, which makes the text a bit difficult to read. Hopefully, this is just an early-production error that will be corrected in the final version. Even without the printing issue, the text could benefit from being larger or having a bit more variety, especially for a children’s book. The illustrations, which look hand-painted, are nice. However, the current text layout distracts slightly from the artwork due to its clarity issues. Some pages that are full colored like the one with dark blue would've been better to have white text on it than black.

Overall, Slow Days is a gentle read about connection, curiosity, and the simple joys of a day at the beach. With some improvements to the text layout, it has the potential to be an even more beautiful and engaging picture book for young readers.