We use the same measures of speed and time, but our perception of time is very personal. Minutes drag when we’re bored, but hours fly by when we’re having fun. Sometimes we want to do things fast, other times we feel like taking things slow.

This rhyming story, in the voice of a young child, explores how our pace shapes our experience of the world. In Fast and Slow, we meet speedy and sedate animals from all over the world, discovering how they move through time and space in their unique ways. Likewise, we can each find our own tempo while finding joy in the present.

The book ends with some easy games and activities that encourage either speed or stillness. 

Ming Tan is a Singaporean mother of three children. She loves museums and monuments, historical walks and nature trails. She believes that stories can help us engage with our natural and cultural heritage. Fast and Slow is her third book in the series that includes Clean and Dirty and Near and Far, all of which explore a child’s experience of the world while revealing the rich diversity of animal behaviour.

Ali Shandi Ramadan lives in Surabaya, Indonesia. His designs and illustrations are inspired by manga, anime and his two beautiful children. Ali holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Design from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, plays football and loves running around randomly in the yard.

Why does time seem to stretch and squeeze? Minutes drag when we’re bored, but hours fly by when we’re having fun.

This book explores how our pace shapes our experience of the world.