Childrens Books – Llama, Llama books by Anna Dewdney Book Reviews

There’s just something about repetition in books that kids of all ages love - well, kids up to perhaps about five or six years old anyway.  Beyond that, rhyming books are still a big hit, especially for early readers, but I digress.  My daughters have had the Llama, Llama books for what seems like forever, but since they’re only three and a half and five, I guess we’ve had them for about three to four years.  Yes, we have them all – all three!  The first one was Llama, Llama Mad at Mama, followed by Llama, Llama Red Pajama and the most recent one is Llama, Llama Misses Mama.

All three are great picture books in addition to being great read-aloud books, both at home or in a classroom or other group story time.  Why the author chose to use a llama as the main character, other than the fact that it rhymes with mama (perhaps that’s the only reason), I don’t know, but the kids sure do seem to like it. 

These books are amongst my favorites for preschool age kids (2-5) and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a new book for their child or to give as a gift (see more great children’s books and picture books.) I love giving books as gifts; it may not always be the biggest hit for the receiving child, even if the child likes books, but I’m a firm believer or reading early and often to your children. Besides, the receiver’s mama probably wouldn’t mind a new book instead of another toy!

Reading early and often to kids can go a long way to instilling a love of books and reading for your children, which in turn can improve their creativity, imagination, and listening and communication skills. Reading to children also helps them learn the letters of the alphabet and shape and other object recognition.

This book tells the story that most mothers and their children can relate to – going shopping with the kids!  Mama llama needs to go shopping at the Shop-O-Rama and brings baby (I guess child would be more appropriate) llama along.  As I’m sure you can already guess, llama llama loses patience and starts to act up in the store; he tosses items out of the cart and makes a big mess.  Lucky for mama, she is able to easily talk him into behaving by explaining to him that she, too, does not like to shop but she has to and is happy that at least she can do it together with him.  Tantrum over, llama llama helps mama clean the mess he made and llama llama is no longer mad at mama. 

Oh, the trials and tribulations of bedtime!  That’s what this book is about – well, actually more like bedtime and separation anxiety.  Llama llama is in bed and is fretting about being alone.  He calls out to mama and she does not come right away because she is downstairs talking on the phone.  Llama llama begins to get scared and whimpers, then boo-hoos, then he and starts screaming, thereby scaring mama, who runs upstairs to llama llama’s side.  She comforts him and explains to him that even when she’s not right there, she’s always near.

In this book, Llama llama attends preschool for the first time.  “Strange new teacher.  Strange new toys.  Lots of kids and lots of noise.”  Mama llama makes sure llama llama is ready, but when she leaves him, he is nervous and wonders if and when mama llama will come back.  Llama llama, being in unfamiliar surroundings, retreats and keeps to himself.  Eventually, the teacher and other kids show llama llama how much fun school can be and when mama llama shows up to pick him up, he is excited to show her all the fun things at preschool.

This is a great book to read to a small child who is about to start school and feeling a little anxious about it. 

I know one thing already that will be on my "to buy for the holidays" list!  This latest in the Llama, Llama series is scheduled to be released on October 19, 2010, but you can pre-order it now at Amazon.  The description tells the story of Llama Llama being a bit impatient around the holidays and ultimately being taught by mama that the holidays are about more than just presents...