Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney, Anna Dewdney (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Llama, Llama red pajama
waiting, waiting for his mama.
Mama isn't coming yet.
Baby Llama starts to fret.

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.

Jacki Vawter, Ph.D. - Children's Literature

This picture book is a bedtime story for young children who have dealt with the concerns of falling asleep. The book is also about mother-comfort and a young child struggling to cope. The only two characters are Baby Llama and Mama Llama. The familiar story is basically told in four-line rhymes and conveys all the emotions of baby waiting for mama to bring a glass of water to him while he also waits for sleep to come. The mom is busy downstairs and when the phone rings, the wait becomes longer. Perhaps the cleverest rhyme is when mama returns to the baby after his loud fussing and says, "please stop all this llama drama and be patient for your mama." The illustrations make the book a winner. The background colors are bold with dark blues portraying nighttime. The characters are painted softly with wonderful facial expressions and terrific action poses. Baby yells for his mother and the force of his yell is apparent. Mama comes running, and we see her quick movements and concern. The book is a good blend of text and illustrations with an appropriate story for its intended audience. 2005, Viking, Ages 2 to 6.

School Library Journal

PreS-K-With its sweet rendering of the trials of bedtime and separation anxiety, this book's familiar theme will be a hit with youngsters. Baby Llama, all tucked in and kissed after his bedtime story, watches his mama leave the room with a worried expression on his face. When he calls her and she does not come back immediately, he succumbs to a fit of wailing and weeping, finally bringing his panic-stricken mother at a full gallop. After her reassurance that "Mama Llama's always near, even if she's not right here," Baby Llama settles and drifts off to sleep. This story has a simple rhyme scheme, using natural language that children will enjoy. The large, boldly colored pictures have a grand and sweeping quality, extending out to the edges of the pages. Baby Llama's facial expressions capture his fear and alarm wonderfully. The contrast between light and dark enhances the drama in the story. This effective read-aloud will be a popular choice for storyhour and one-on-one sharing.-Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

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