Come, Llamas [Paperback]

Jennifer Morris (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

It’s spring time on the Kinnaman Ranch in Alaska, and nine-year-old JT is sure it will be the best one yet. This season he’s determined to become a pitcher on his school’s baseball team and to raise his very own llama, just like Grandad promised. When baby llama Elmo is born, JT has all kinds of plans for the first of his herd. Every night after baseball practice, JT trains Elmo. And every morning, the small llama seems to be growing stronger—even as Grandad’s persistant cough gets worse and worse.

Then a bear charges through their property, and JT doesn’t see how their family will manage. Half their llamas are gone, Elmo’s leg is broken, and it’s not long before Grandad needs to be rushed to the clinic. But everything’s always growing and changing on a llama ranch, and JT will find a way to keep on keeping on and make Grandad proud.


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6 - Nine-year-old JT tells about his life on an Alaskan llama ranch. He has a lot to deal with as he strives to be a pitcher for his baseball team, raises his first llama, and faces his beloved grandfather's declining health. He is a devoted caretaker for the newborn cria, and is devastated when a bear attack forces him to face the darker side of ranching and to make some difficult decisions regarding the injured animal. The story is gently told but includes enough action and tension to keep the plot moving along. At times, JT's voice sounds much older than his years; nevertheless, his life is intriguing and children who give the book a chance will find themselves rooting for the boy as he overcomes obstacles to claim his place on the Kinnaman Ranch. - Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. When JT is nine years old, Grandad decrees that he is old enough to start making his contribution to the family's Alaska llama ranch. JT has plenty on his mind that spring: raising his first cria (baby llama); becoming a pitcher on his baseball team; and coming to terms with his beloved grandad's deteriorating health. A bear destroys fences and mauls the fleeing llamas, but family, friends, and community pull together to restore the ranch, while JT proves his own resilience and worth. Told in the first person from JT's point of view, the story is firmly rooted in its Alaska locale. Many readers will be unfamiliar with the setting, but they'll soon find themselves caught up in JT's experiences and heightened emotions as he lives through a season of change. From the first page to the last, the close relationship between JT and his grandfather lies at the heart of this rewarding first novel. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (November 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440420245
• ISBN-13: 978-0440420248
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,843,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come, Llamas-An Excellent Read, March 21, 2005

By 

Kim A. Hughes "Kimberyle Hughes" (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Come, Llamas (Hardcover)

Come,Llamas is a wonderful book about a young man learning some tough lessons in life and the value of family. This fresh new author will delight young and old alike, I loved it!

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, January 7, 2010

By 

C. Douglas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Come, Llamas (Paperback)

I bought this book for my 11 year old grandson who loves llamas. He was absorbed by the story and shared the book with his mother and has asked me to read it, too. That certainly shows how much he enjoyed the story.

5.0 out of 5 stars Down on the Farm---Enjoyable Reading, June 1, 2005

By 

Arctic Voice Earl (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Come, Llamas (Hardcover)

We don't have any Llama farms in the high Arctic that I know of--closest might be a tradition of historic Reindeer herding.
But I think children around grades 4-6, and even adults interested in Alaska life will enjoy this debut book by a very promising author.

There are lots of details about Llamas, including the birth process (and a couple of surprises there), but it is all done with a caring touch for young people.

And the portrait of a nine-year-old boy, taking on the responsibility for a Llama is very revealing and inspirational. He still retains the joys of being a kid, including his love of baseball.

A plot, and a portrait of Lllama raising, that will keep the reading going. And I believe it will help young people appreciate animals of all types, and how to respect and understand them.

Enjoy!
Earl