Review - Llama Llama Red Pajama, Llama Llama Mad at Mama, Llama Llama Misses Mama

I found these books on We Give Books.  They had three of them available, so I read them all.  According to Goodreads, there are thirteen books about this adorable little llama and his mother.  See below for my thoughts on each of the books:

Llama Llama Red Pajama (Llama Llama)
by Anna Dewdney
Date: 2005
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

In this infectious rhyming read-aloud, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama! Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goes downstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn’t come right back. But just in time, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama’s need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama’s reassuring message.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book was probably my favourite of the bunch.  It takes a common childhood fear (when mother doesn't come running, does it mean she's left?) and spins an amusing little tale around it.  Mama Llama's reassurances to her son are sweet and heartfelt, letting kids know that, just because their parents might be busy, it doesn't mean they aren't there for them.  The illustrations in this book are particularly adorable... even when Llama Llama is moaning and crying for his mother (who's simply on the phone in the kitchen).

Quotable moment:

Llama llama
red pajama
in the dark
without his mama.
Eyes wide open,
covers drawn...
What if Mama Llama's GONE?

Recommended to: young children and their parents

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Llama Llama Mad at Mama (Llama Llama)
by Anna Dewdney
Date: 2007
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

Does any child like to go shopping? Not Llama Llama! But Mama can’t leave Llama at home, so off they go to Shop-O-Rama. Lots of aisles. Long lines. Mama is too busy to notice that Llama Llama is getting m-a-d! And before he knows it, he’s having a full-out tantrum! Mama quickly calms him down, but she also realizes that they need to make shopping more fun for both of them.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This was the first of the Llama Llama books I read, and I was pleasantly surprised.  The story takes a familiar situation (a child would rather stay home and play, but gets dragged to the store and becomes bored and frustrated) and imparts a valuable lesson... for both the child and the parent.  After Llama Llama throws a fit and makes a mess, he's held responsible for his actions and has to help Mama Llama make amends.  It was a good message, and the cute pictures did a good job of illustrating the emotions of the characters.

Quotable moment:

Loaf of bread
and Cream of Wheat.
Llama Llama wants his treat.
It's no fun at Shop-O-Rama.
Llama Llama
MAD at Mama!

Recommended to: young children and their parents

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.43 out of 5

Llama Llama Misses Mama (Llama Llama)
by Anna Dewdney
Date: 2009
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool! And Llama Llama’s mama makes sure he’s ready. They meet the teachers. See the other children. Look at all the books and games. But then it’s time for Mama to leave. And suddenly Llama Llama isn’t so excited anymore. Will Mama Llama come back?

Of course she will. But before she does, the other children show Llama Llama how much fun school can be!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This Llama Llama book takes a common theme for its story: the first day of school/preschool.  At first, Llama Llama is sad and scared because he thinks his mother's left him.  But when the teacher reassures him that his mother will be back at the end of the day, he starts to have some fun and make some friends.  And, of course, Mama Llama comes back.  Like the other two books, this one has a reassuring message for kids.  The illustrations in this one were pretty cute, too, with all of the different animals.  Llama Llama's teacher is a zebra!

Quotable moment:

Don't be sad, new little llama!
It's OK to miss your mama.
But don't forget--
when day is through,
she will come right back to you.

Recommended to: young children and their parents

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5



Overall, I really enjoyed these books, even though I'm way past the target audience and I don't have children of my own.  I wouldn't mind reading some of the other Llama Llama titles if they're as cute as these three!