Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney, Anna Dewdney (Illustrator)

From Barnes & Noble

Young llamas don't like shopping any more than human kids do. Llama Llama can't suppress his impatience with the endless aisles, the long lines, and the smells of the Shop-O-Rama. When the little quadruped throws a llama-sized tantrum, his mom calms him down and finds ways to make shopping more palatable for the whole family. A delightful rhymed story for youngsters confronting their first retail experience.

From the Publisher

Yucky music, great big feet.

Ladies smelling way too sweet.

Look at knees and stand in line.

Llama Llama starts to whine.

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. Parents and children are sure to recognize themselves in this fun-to-read follow-up to the popular Llama Llama Red Pajama.

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 2 up.

The author manages to show a toddler's view of a trip to the store, a trip the little one is not enjoying. After being dragged away from a happy time playing with his toys, Llama is strapped into his car seat, where he takes a little snooze during the drive to the Shop-O-Rama. It does not take him long to get tired of the "Yucky music,/ great big feet/Ladies smelling way too sweet/look at knees and stand in line" and so he, "starts to whine" He is out of sorts as Mama Llama has him try on clothes from the clearance shelves; he has no interest in socks and underwear. Then, as his mama shops for food, Llama Llama gets mad. Finally he hits fever pitch and has an all-out tantrum right there in the store and throws things from the cart. Mama Llama very patiently asks him to stop and explains how much she loves being with him and asks him to help her shop, and that makes all the difference. This story will strike a chord with moms who have been confronted by an overtired child while in the supermarket. The story tells of an everyday event in the lives of moms and their little ones in a way most everyone can relate to and appreciate. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford

Jayne DamronCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal

PreS-K
In this sequel to Llama Llama Red Pajama (Viking, 2005), the hoofed protagonist goes shopping with his mother. Gradually the small annoyances of the Shop-O-Rama ("Yucky music,/great big feet./Ladies smelling way too sweet....Try it on and take it off./Pull and wiggle,/itch and cough") send the youngster into a tantrum: "It's no fun at Shop-O-Rama./Llama Llama/MAD at Mama!" With admirable patience and parenting skills, Mama tames the "llama drama," explaining to her son that they can make the chore fun by working together. Soon Llama Llama is helping Mama clean up the messy results of his meltdown and complete their purchases, and then they are off to pursue more pleasurable activities. Children will giggle at Dewdney's rhythmic rhymes. The inviting, oversized paintings are bold and colorful, and Llama Llama's priceless expressions carry the emotional arc of the story to its gentle conclusion. Add this amusing tale to your storytime repertoire or recommend it for one-on-one sharing.

Product Details

• Interviews & Essays

Interviews & Essays

I wrote Llama Llama Mad at Mama? because I knew that all little Llamas have to go shopping with mama (or papa, as the case may be) when they really don't want to, and I wanted to write about it. I also just missed Llama Llama, and I wanted him to have another adventure.

What would you like young readers to learn from Llama Llama?

I hope young readers will relate to Little Llama, laugh at him and with him, and cuddle up closer with their parents as they read together. I hope my books will deepen the relationship children have with their parents, and empower children through that relationship.

Are any of your characters based on you or your family?

I think of my books as "true" stories, meaning that they are based on the real experiences that I've had as a child or a mother. Certainly, I've spent many hours in the big box stores, wandering the aisles, listening to little children scream with frustration in the carts as their parents try to get them to stop. I've also spent a great deal of time with my own children (one of whom hated to shop), shopping on the weekend because I had to work during the week . . . .it's no fun.

What was your favorite book growing up?

My favorite book was probably Higglety Pigglety Pop, by Maurice Sendak. It's not his most famous book, but it is a great work of philosophy! Plus, it has wonderful drawings of Jennie the dog.

You have written as well as illustrated your own books. How do you come up with the faces for your characters?

I'm the sort of person who makes a lot of faces, whether or not I'm aware of it. If I feel something, it goes across myface. When I'm drawing Llama Llama, I imagine how he feels, I make the face, and I draw it. I think I must look pretty funny, alone in my studio, scowling at the paper.

What advice would you give children who aspire to be future illustrators?

Draw, draw, and draw some more! Look at lots of pictures, go to museums, and gets ideas from other artists. Make up stories and draw pictures to go along with them. Most of all, don't worry about drawing or painting the way other people do . . . .in the end, the way you draw is the best for you. Make the best pictures only you can make!