As the rest of the family rushes out the door wearing sports uniforms and work scrubs, a Black girl and her grandfather indulge in a quiet breakfast together at home before heading out into the city where “palms of light… wave us outside.” “We go slow” is the refrain setting the pace of their day as they wander mindfully, taking in the sights: flowers, chalk drawings, soft fabrics for sale outside a store. They join “a busy, buzzing line” for “bright, bold slices of ripe sunshine” sprinkled with chili powder and lime. They stop for cups of chai, wander through a park, and watch artists painting the brick wall of a building. As the sun begins to set, they make their way home hand in hand. Soothing and meditative, this gentle story with lyrical text is awash in softly blurred watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations.

A Golden Kite Award Winner for Picture Book Text

A walk through their bustling city neighborhood brings a girl and her grandfather closer together in this gentle, contemplative picture book that’s “a reminder of the importance of being in the world with unhurried attention and open hearts” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

A child and her grandfather step out of their brownstone and take a walk around their lively city. Together, they practice looking closely. They delight in the world that they see, taste, touch, feel, and hear. Whether learning a yellow bird’s song, tasting a street vendor’s mango slices, or listening to the thumping music from passing cars, they find small wonders in every moment they share—and together, always, they go slow.

Simple yet poetic, We Go Slow is a breathtaking invitation to everyday wonder from acclaimed picture book creators Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and Aaron Becker.