Customer Reviews

Llama Llama Mad at Mama

5 star:		(101)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book could easily become one of your child's favorites, as its story is so honest and easy to relate to. When a mother llama takes her young son with her as she goes shopping, the boy gets so bored he throws a tantrum. She stays calm, however, and convinces him to shop with her as a team. Eventually they get ice cream cones and all is well.

The tale is told in short, witty rhymes that are fun to read aloud and say together. For example, the boy's growing impatience in a shopping mall is described thusly:

"Yucky music, great big feet.
Ladies smelling way too sweet.
Look at knees and stand in line.
Llama Llama starts to whine."

Like other good picture books, this one is effortless to read, as each of its 15 page spreads has only about four lines, like those above. The artwork, by the author herself, illustrates the shopping trip in an entertaining, colorful manner. Designed for years of use, the book has a reinforced binding, and a dust jacket that's printed with the same art as that on the cover itself.

This title is a followup to 2005's Llama, Llama Red Pajama.

Llama llama reminds me a lot of my children and I, well? Am not always as kind as Llama Mama. The good thing is, this colorful, amusing book is so much fun that it gets us talking about ways to handle situations with more flair and less fighting.

I was reading this aloud to my son at my local book store and a woman walking by looking for books for some children she knew said she HAD to buy it because simply listening to me read it made her happy. The rhythms and rhymes are fun and clever and the illustrations are icing on the cake. I never knew llamas could have such divine (and diverse!) facial expressions.

Also - what makes the art so exceptional is that it is very colorful and detailed but not TOO much to be overwhelming to the child so that the story itself gets missed by having "too much art."

One note - the age here says 9 - 12 in one section. I would think it is far more suited to late preschool, early elementary age children - although it is a read aloud older siblings would enjoy reading to the little ones.

this is a nice book with cute rhymes and lovely drawings, but i agree with a previous poster that the naughty little llama behaviour if done by my son would normally result in leaving the store and going home for a time-out. such a temper tantrum certainly wouldn't merit a treat from the ice cream store, as seen on the final page! but my son (almost 3) liked the book and it did prompt a discussion about whether i would react the same way as the ever-patient mama llama. (nope - my son didn't think so)

Llama Llama is playing quite happily until his mother collects him for a shopping expedient. Managing to fall asleep in his car seat, his repose is rudely interrupted by being awakened and stuffed into the child seat of a shopping cart. When the shopping continues far too long, Little Llama Llama gets REALLY mad at Mama -- with the inevitable results.

This second story in rhyming text about Llama Llama could just as well be entitled, "Toddler Meltdown." The illustrations of the long-necked protagonist and his mama are cheerfully humorous and emotionally expressive. This is sure to be a toddler pleaser with its slightly exaggerated depiction of events that both children and parents know well.

As an educator I liked the way this book rhymes since it is a neat way for children to pick up on the different sounds that words make. I was a little disappointed with the items being thrown out of the buggy. I thought that was a little extreme and might possibly give little minds bad ideas. Also, the story was drawn out a bit and got a little boring. The first Llama book was excellent so I was expecting the same from this one. I am still glad I purchased it though and will use the negative parts to demonstrate what my little one should NEVER do!

We read Llama Llama Red Pajama all the time and so were really looking forward to this new book. It is wonderfully illustrated and has quickly become a new favorite. However within a few days I noticed my 3 year old throwing his toys and yelling "Smash the cart and Bash the signs" just like the Llama in the book. In our house such behavior leads to Time Out so now when we read the story I insert a little guidance such as "We don't do that do we?" and we talk about what we can do instead when we feel mad.

My daughter loves the llama llama books. This one is great, as always, but mama llama doesn't handle things exactly the way I would.

Llama llama is having fun playing but mama llama drags him to the store. He gets more and more bored, until he finally decides he's had enough and throws all the stuff out of the cart (damaging much of it). Mama llama convinces him that they should be a team. They clean up the mess, finish shopping, then go for ice cream. I call this "Caillou Parenting."

This just isn't how we do things in our family. *My* llama llama would have been prepped for what to expect at the store, would not have been made to shop for ages (way past the attention span of a small child), and would not have gotten the reward of ice cream after such poor behavior.

But I over think things. The rhymes and illustrations are wonderful and it's still a fun read. My 3-year-old can't get enough of these.

I just wanted to address the concern that this book condones tantrums. It's true, that Llama has a bit of a meltdown in the store with his Mama. He is frustrated, getting hungry and bored, and doesn't like to shop. Mama Llama handles this wonderfully. She first empathizes with her little one - helping him understand that they're on the same side and can work together as a team to get through an experience which is challenging for both of them - teaching compassion and teamwork. She then helps him right his wrong - cleaning up the mess that he made during his fit, which teaches responsibility. Then she follows through on keeping her word that they would go out for a special treat afterward - showing her little one that Mama is trustworthy. From a child psychology standpoint, this book is fantastic! I hope I can be just like this Mama when my little ones challenge me in this way!

The rhythmic verse of this book is very catchy and makes for an enjoyable read. It is a humorous tale from the point-of-view of a preschooler who does not enjoy his trip to the store for a day of shopping. It is a great reminder to moms everywhere that shopping for hours on end is not fun for young children. The tantrum that little llama throws would not be acceptable from one of my own children, but does provide a teachable moment about how not to behave in public (or at home for that manner).

We (me and my children) all like Anna Dewdney's IIama books. We love the rhythmic verse, the rhymes, and the warmth of the stories. The book is beautifully illustrated and it is a joy for all of us. As for other great books I also recommend Llama, Llama Red Pajama and the series of Rascal the cat (Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 1; Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 2; Why Some Cats are Rascals ( Book 3))