Slothlove

by Sam Trull

Wildlife conservationist and photographer Sam Trull’s world changed forever when she gave up her comfortable life in the United States for the wilds of Costa Rica. After almost twenty years of working with animals, one creature in particular had captured her the sloth.

In her stunning photo series, Slothlove , Sam shares intimate portraits of these captivating and endearing animals from her unique perspective as their protector, mother, and friend. Sam not only found her life’s work among her beloved sloths; she also found comfort, friendship, and inspiration after having suffered a devastating loss. Woven in with these images are unforgettable stories of heartbreak and survival, as well as interesting facts about these intelligent and beautiful creatures.

Slothlove is an unforgettable journey into the trees of the Costa Rican rainforest and a moving portrait of the profound connection between humans and animals.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Photography, Picture Books, Nature

96 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2016

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I must provide a fair warning that you may experience cuteness overload upon reading this book. I love learning that I have won a Goodreads giveaway, but I don't think I've ever been so excited about winning a particular giveaway. I have always thought that sloths were particularly adorable, but my son is responsible for my deepening fascination with this animal (he considers the sloth his spirit animal).

The book is primarily a photo book with many high quality photographs. Imagine a baby sloth in a teacup, one with a hibiscus flower hanging from his mouth, and a brown-eyed beauty "smiling" for the camera. There are also many photos of sloths in their natural habitat, but those are insufferably cute, too.

Author Sam Trull, wildlife conservationist and photographer, offers a great deal of information on sloths based on her formal education and personal experience.

Just a few facts:
-Sloths have the slowest metabolism of any mammal.
-Sloths seem to smile because of a lack of expressive facial muscles.
-Two-fingered and three-fingered sloths differ in their ancestry, diet, and activity habits.

I think the most important takeaway from this book is the realization that sloths survive best in their natural habitat and that this habitat is danger of disappearing due to human encroachment.

I would recommend this book for any animal lover. You may also want to checkout the Slothlove Facebook page.

"What I didn't realize was that while I would come to Costa Rica for the monkeys, I would stay for the sloths." - Sam Trull

Many thanks to Inkshares for the opportunity to review this book!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has the cuteness factor down pat! Chocked full of info & absolutely adorable photos, this hit my heart. Trull, who cofounded the Sloth Institute Costa Rica, explains how she got to this point in her life after dealing with the loss of both her fiancé & father within a single year. Each page captures the beauty of these creatures with a fact inserted at the bottom. I enjoyed reading about Trull's work with sloths & how she makes sense of death through these animals. It's clear Trull has found her passion; it bleeds off the pages. The only comment I have is how abruptly it ends, with the final tone on the subject of death. It's a reoccurring theme throughout, but it was so sudden it kind of left a sour taste in my mouth. Regardless, the real highlight are the photos & it is impossible to not fall in love with sloths after reading this. I only wish it were longer! Perfect for any animal lover, I believe this would make an amazing gift! I would not hesitate to have another book from Trull, to see where everything is at today. Highly recommended.

*I received a copy through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the opportunity!*

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Lovely adorable book of baby sloth photographs. I wished for more text and story. Picked this up because of recent trip to Costa Rica that included visit to sloth nature preserve where we saw a 2 toed sloth, with the help of a scope (it was high up in tree and very still) and then were able to spend a while watching a more active three toed sloth moving slow motion, adjusting position in tree.

The orphan baby sloths in the photos are appealing, very well groomed, as they are being rehabilitated to return to life in the wild. Author shares a bit of her own story as well as that of a couple of the baby sloths at the Sloth Institute which author co-founded.

[El]

Oh, hai. ADORABLE and informative. I should read this.

National Geographic tells me to.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

I was having one of those days, a rotten, black cloud of a day, wandering the stacks in a mood when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a pink nose. A double-take revealed the owner to be a sloth, a very, very, cute sloth documented in an entire book, on sloths. Not the average sloth that first comes to your mind with an almost creepy human face but, cute, baby sloths, with personalities. As I started flipping through, I felt my mood lift. The sheer cuteness of these strange creatures brought me back. Now, if I feel the slightest onset of uncheer, I know all I need is a little Slothlove.
-Lisanne E.

[courtnei · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS FOR ALL THE CUTE SLOTH PHOTOS. But also for the really sweet and touching sloth stories. I still want one as a pet, but understand that my dog wouldn't like that and the sloth 1000% wouldn't like that. -insert Kristen Bell crying over meeting a sloth gif here-

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

New squee on every page. Squeeeeeee!

I am so in love with this book!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this in a Goodreads Giveaway. Written by the Director of the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, this book is packed with fun and interesting facts about sloths complete with adorable photos of rescue residents and their survival stories. Some of my favorite facts about sloths that I learned are:

- Sloths only sleep about 10 hours a day, up to 50% less than we previously thought!
- Sloths are extremely flexible and would be great at yoga!
- The Spanish word for sloth is "el perezoso," which means "lazy." Poor guys!

Sloths live in the rainforests and jungles that are disappearing due to human activity; it's imperative we protect their habitats from deforestation. Anyone would fall in love with sloths after reading this book.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures, decent factoids.

[Sara 👻 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penso di non aver mai letto qualcosa di così dolce e al contempo così triste.
I bradipi sono animali tenerissimi, adorabili in modo indescrivibile, e ti aspetti che in un libro fotografico ed autobiografico come questo diano il massimo della loro bellezza. Ma la storia non ci risparmia le difficoltà che questi animali si trovano ad affrontare, quando in fin di vita vengono salvati dal personale dei centri di riabilitazione, e tantomeno edulcorano la pillola sul fatto che la vita non sia una fiaba e la morte sappia spesso essere impietosa.
Sono contentissima di aver acquistato questo libro, che mi è entrato nel cuore, e di aver conosciuto di più sui bradipi; le tante foto presenti sono tutte corredate di didascalie che svelano numerose curiosità su questi animali.
Libro consigliato, anzi di più!!

[_ teafunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of adorable pictures sure to make you a Slothlove person by the last page. The heartfelt stories about Sam's time caring for sloths in Costa Rica warmed my heart. Not only a picture book, Slothlove includes Sam's personal stories about her favorite sloths and facts about sloths.



**Thank you Inkshares for hosting the Goodreads giveaway providing me with my copy of the book. All opinions are my own.**

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was just returning to the US from a Costa Rica vacation and was browsing the shops in the airport when I spotted Slothlove. I love sloths, in fact the number one thing on my Costa Rica wish list was to see a live sloth. So when I saw the book, I just had to have it. I loved it! The pictures are so dang cute, it just makes your heart swell. Anytime I'm having a bad day, I just have to pick up Slothlove and thumb through it. The day is instantly brighter.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Trull is so passionate and she has dedicated her life to the conservative of sloths. There is literally no one on earth at this point who knows more about them. Her work has proven what everyone else thought was impossible - to save, rehab and release orphaned sloths back into the wild. This book is not only beautiful and touching - it helps save orphaned and injured sloths! An absolute win-win!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very important book about sloths. First of all, the photographs, which so beautifully fill the pages, are a true delight. Secondly, the emphasis on the importance and difficulty of wildlife rescue is vital. Of course, this means you may need a few tissues by your side as you make your way through Sam Trull’s poignant stories.

[Melissa Deryke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This book is so cute . We enjoyed all of the pictures. We highly recommend for families.
#lovesloths #monster #kermieiscute #elvisrocks.

[nona ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored the book and the pictures!

[Tony Allevato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a long book, can easily be read in less then an hour, but the pictures are worth looking at for years. This book brought me to laughter and to tears. Simply beautiful.

[Wendy Kuzma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and informative. Adorable photographs along with personal stories. It is official...I, too, am now in love with sloths!

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sloths are my 100% favourite animal and my Grandmother gave this to me when I was eight and I still love it! The sloths are so cute and photography, stories and facts are amazing! Sam Trull takes loving sloths to a whole new level!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book of gorgeous pictures and interesting information, all put together by a woman who has devoted herself to looking after orphaned sloths in Costa Rica following her own personal tragedies.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything a sloth lover could want! The photos are exceptional and the narrative is engaging.

[Tammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written.....great pictures

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Slothlove as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I loved this book. The photographs and personal stories about the sloths were beautiful, educational and heartwarming. As a middle school librarian, I believe my students would love this book, especially about their bathroom visits, since middle schoolers love the gross. So many facts I never knew and my mother who is a high school biology teacher will barrow my copy to use in lessons for her class. This was an excellent book that invited readers to safely get close and personal with amazing sloths.

[Cara Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Sloths. But after reading this book and seeing the photos, I'm a more educated lover of Sloths. I've found my peeps........I discovered sloths through the Toucan Rescue Ranch of Costa Rica. What they do is nothing short of amazing. Anyone who rescues animals is truly amazing, in all shelters, in all sanctuaries, no matter who they are rescuing, they are amazing. The heart break and the joy might be more than I could take on a daily basis, these people are true heroes! Photos of sloths and just looking at cute sloth pictures makes me immensely happy!

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads. When it arrived, my three-year-old daughter took it from me immediately and sat down to look at it. We both loved the beautiful photographs and the little facts about sloths. I also enjoyed reading the longer stories of the individual sloths that were featured in the book. Although it isn't a children's book, I suspect that it will go missing from my bookshelf one day soon and turn up in my daughter's room. This book is excellent for animal lovers of all ages.

[Martha K Countess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of information and beautiful photographs taken by my niece who has spent her adult life saving animals. If you are curious about sloths and want to learn about them and see some beautiful photos taken of the interaction between photographer and sloth, you shouldn't miss this book. Sam has been referred to as "The Mother of Sloths." When you read this book, you will know why.

[Megan Rang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with Slothlove!! I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. When I first opened it I flipped through the beautiful photos of what I found to be adorable sloths! Then I read the book and loved all the information and facts about sloths. I enjoyed the stories of the sloths who were brought in to the rescue. If you love animals you will love this book!!!!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won a copy of this book on Goodreads from Inkshares. I gave it to my sister who loves sloths and it was a hit! This is a beautiful book with touching stories and precious pictures. It really does inspire slothlove. Everything about sloths says God's creation, not evolution.

[Brandy Sledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute your head might turn to cotton candy! The pictures Sam took at the sloth rehabilitation center are amazing. And the way she uses these charmingly adorable guys to present the information she wants you to know is even better. Who knew so much cuteness could be so insightful.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable. Beyond the cuteness, I appreciated the author's inclusion of difficult cases and end of life -- wildlife rescue is not awesome every day; it is, in fact, hard work. (As a volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation organization, I can attest to this.)