'Hurry Up!' urges children to slow down, enjoy life

Hurry Up!

Written by Kate Dopirak and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Simon & Schuster, 2020

Told in rhyme, “Hurry Up!” addresses the reader, urging us to stop hurrying and slow down.

“Slow things down. Take a break. Look around for goodness’ sake.”

The illustrations show a girl, who starts out looking anxious as she hurries out of bed, down the stairs, onto the school bus, and to school.

Finally, there is a double spread and the capitalized word, STOP.

The girl lies in the grass and looks at a snail as her dog looks on. The story urges the reader to breathe slowly, make a wish, take a walk, listen to the forest talk.

“Go explore. Make new friends. Find out where the rainbow ends.”

The girl looks more relaxed and happier after she slows down.

The day ends as the girl and her dog sit in the grass and look up at the stars. The girl smiles in the glow of a firefly she holds in her hands as her dog looks on.

“Mosey home. Stretch and yawn. Race is off, and rest is on.

No more fast – slooooow instead. Dreams and lazy days ahead.”

The colorful illustrations help to tell the story, making it about one girl and her dog.

This book urges children to slow down, so they can notice more and enjoy life. It is a good lesson because today children's lives are often so busy and over-scheduled. It was published posthumously after the author died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare degenerative brain disorder. 

About the Author

Kate Dopirak wrote several picture books including “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car,” illustrated by Mary Peterson and “You’re My Boo,” illustrated by Lesley Breen Withrow. She passed away in 2018 of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare degenerative brain disorder, leaving behind her husband and two sons.

About the Illustrator

Christopher Silas Neal has illustrated many award-winning children’s books including “Over and Under the Snow,” by Kate Messner, “From Tree to Sea,” by Shelley Moore Thomas and his own “I Won’t Eat That.”