Slow Down and Be Here Now: More Nature Stories to Make You Stop, Look, and Be Amazed by the Tiniest Things

There's a kind of magic in slowing down enough to notice a hummingbird sipping nectar, a pea shoot unfurling toward the sun, or a little snail tracing its silver path across the morning dew. Slow Down and Be Here Now invites your little ones into that magic — twenty gentle, richly illustrated stories that turn everyday nature into something worth pausing for.

Written by bestselling author Laura Brand and brought to life with Freya Hartas's dreamy, botanical illustrations, this book pairs charming storytelling with real science — little facts and figures on animals, plants, and weather tucked into every page.

A treasured addition to the beloved Slow Down series, it's the kind of book that teaches mindfulness without ever saying the word — perfect for curious young nature lovers and the grown-ups who read alongside them.

The Details

• Ages 8–12
• Part of the Slow Down series
• 64 pages, full color
• 9.25 x 0.6 x 11.5 in.
• Published by Magic Cat Publishing, an imprint of Abrams
• ISBN: 978-1-4197-6597-1

A soft place to land after a busy day — for little hands and hearts that need a reminder to slow down.