"Emerging readers will delight in reading this metafiction narrative. ...The simple, distinguished watercolor illustrations create drama, and the details on every page invite repeated viewings. A fabulous choice for young readers and for storytime sharing."--School Library Journal "Mervin has top billing, but the real star of Venable's semi-metafictional story is the title itself...The repartee...and Chan's cartoon choreographing of the argumentative cast crackle with silly energy."--Publishers Weekly "A best thing, indeed. ...Chan's appealing, cartoon-style watercolor illustrations enhance the humor of the text throughout the picture book and employ a distinct, memorable style. A book to hug close and then share with a friend."--Kirkus Reviews
Colleen AF Venable says the best thing in the world is collaborating with friends. She spent many years convincing her parents that a sloth is the best pet in the world, but she never got one. Instead she has a pet bunny and five pet fish in a sixty-gallon aquarium. She lives with her animals in Brooklyn, New York. Ruth Chan says the best thing in the world is being able to laugh really hard at yourself. She has always loved sloths, too, and even made an obnoxiously huge paper sloth in second grade. Ruth spends much of her time hugging her (non-paper) cat and dog in Brooklyn, New York.