- Non-Fiction
- Ages 5–8
- Nature
Slow Down and Be Here Now
Book 3 of 3 in Slow DownView the full series
A companion to the bestselling Slow Down: twenty more tiny nature moments - a hummingbird sipping nectar, a pea shoot uncurling, a snail taking a drink - paused so children can stop, look and be amazed by the smallest wonders around them.
- Best for5–8
- FormatNon-fiction
- Length64 pp
- Read aloud~26 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Literary
Tone
- Gentle
- Warm
- Cosy
- Thought provoking
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
A calming companion to the million-copy bestseller Slow Down, this collection gathers twenty more tiny nature stories and holds each one still just long enough to truly notice it. Watch a hummingbird drink nectar, a pea shoot uncurl towards the light, a snail take a slow drink - each small moment paired with gentle facts about the animals, plants and weather behind it. Laura Brand's soothing text and Freya Hartas's richly detailed illustrations invite young readers to slow their breathing, look closely and find joy in being present, then head outside to spot these everyday miracles for themselves. Named one of Waterstones' best children's books of September 2022, it's an enchanting, giftable hardback that makes mindfulness feel natural rather than instructed - perfect for winding down at bedtime and for curious, nature-loving children and the grown-ups reading with them.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best fit is 5-8, working read aloud from about 4 as a bedtime wind-down and independently from 6-9 for readers who like to linger over detailed illustrations. Its calm, mindful tone gives it strong adult crossover appeal.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 6–9
Prose load
Light
Visual support
High
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Gift-buying
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
5 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Nature lovers
- Mindfulness
- Calm bedtime
- Gift book
- Curious children
Avoid if
- Wants fast paced plot
- Prefers fiction only
Particularly good for children who are…
- Anxiety and worry
- Bedtime battles
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Each page slows down one small piece of nature - a hummingbird drinking, a pea shoot uncurling, a snail sipping - so you can watch it up close. The detailed pictures are full of things to spot, and the little facts make you feel like you've discovered a secret about how the world works.
- Cosy safety
- Secret world
Why parents love it
A soothing follow-up in the Slow Down mould that builds the same habit of noticing, with Freya Hartas's gorgeous artwork and accurate, gentle facts. It invites you outdoors together and works beautifully at bedtime - a giftable hardback that rewards repeat reads.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Bedtime appropriate
- Educational for adult too
- Great writing
In the series
Slow Down.
3 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
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