Hurry Up!

Written by Kate Dopirak · Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

A boy and his dog discover the joy of slowing down in a fast-paced world.

5.6/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 501 ratings

40 pages· 162 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

A boy and his dog race through life, always in a hurry. But when they pause to breathe, they uncover the beauty and wonder surrounding them. Can they learn to savor each moment and embrace a slower pace? This charming tale invites readers to find mindfulness and joy in the everyday.

"Hurry here. Hurry there. Hurry, scurry everywhere!"

— from the book

From the publisher

A busy boy and his dog learn to slow down and enjoy life together in this lyrical, rhyming picture book perfect for hurried families everywhere.

For one busy boy, life is all hurry up, hurry down, hurry round and round and round! That is until he takes a big breath…and a big break…and slows down to see all the wonderful things in the world around him.

From celebrated picture book creators Kate Dopirak and Christopher Silas Neal, this playful yet powerful picture book reminds us to be present, to be mindful, and to appreciate each moment.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 40
Words: 162
Reading age: 0–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD230L

Themes & topics

Books about mindfulness Books about anxiety Books about dogs Books about school Books about being busy

The Bookroo review

What our editors thought of Hurry Up!

From his first moments of awakening, one busy boy (with dog in tow) rushes at a frantic pace to get ready, get out the door, catch the bus, do his school work, and hurry home again. The stress induced by this pace (and the prevalent but untrue notion that busyness is akin to success—”hurry if you want to win”) is front and center as children scurry around to the increasingly abrasive call of “Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.” A world of gray horizons (with color in only the boy’s immediate surroundings) blossoms into one of full color as the boy hearkens to the call to “STOP,” slow down, breathe, explore, marvel and “Look around, for goodness’ sake.” The readers’ experience mimics that of the boy’s and one may find oneself taking a deep breath and enjoying the little details as the pace changes with a subtle reminder that life (and particularly childhood) is meant to be experienced, not rushed. This mindful and intentional read feels authentic rather than contrived or preachy—in part aided by its use of illustrations to tell a story—and is a welcome reminder to stop and smell the roses.

The verdict

“This reminder to enjoy life is masterfully executed and utterly enjoyable to read and reread.”

Bookroo Editorial

Reviewed March 2020

5.6/7

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

Where this book stands out

Everyday Core Feeling

The “Everyday Core Feeling” badge is awarded to exceptional books addressing common but powerful feelings.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.6

out of 7

6.0

“An excellent reminder to take a breathe, enjoy our surroundings and breathe, especially for children whose schedules are becoming increasingly full in their (parents') efforts to excel.”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

5.5

“With short lines of poetry and a quick cadence that remind me of a Dr. Seuss poem, this book really struck a chord with our family, where we've been doing so much "hurry, hurry, hurry" that my child recently commented about it and said, "I don't want to always be hurrying." The illustrations are really fun, with the child's scribbled hair and the simplified depiction of settings. I wish that the transition from "hurry" to "easy does it" was explored a little more—it's hard to change mindsets and habits that have us hurrying through life. Also, I thought that by the end of the book the pendulum swung a little too far—the book ends by promising "lazy days ahead." I would have preferred it stick with simply encouraging a measured, unhurried approach to our days. Overall though I really liked the book and it's relevance to our circumstances.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one