Module 2/Caldecott Medal Winners/Picture Books/June 9-June 15

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

Illustrated by Anna Dewdney

Dewdney, A.  (2007).  Llama llama mad at mama.  New York: Penguin Young Readers Group.

Summary 

Baby Llama is happily playing in his room when his mom comes in and tells him it is time to go run errands.  It isn't bad until they are at the Shop-O-Rama for far too long and Baby Llama gets mad and throws a fit.  Mama Llama calms him down and by the end of the trip baby is happy again. 

My Impression

I love the Llama Llama series and this is my favorite of all of them.  It is so cute and hilarious and the story is so true.  So many times I have seen kids who are simply over being at the store and running errands with their moms and they are screaming and crying.  I could read this book over and over again and laugh every time. 

Reviews and Awards

"The engagingly expressive and emotive protagonist of Llama Llama Red Pajama has another reason to be grumpy in this droll follow-up. Having survived bedtime in the earlier tale, Llama Llama here faces another childhood bugaboo: a shopping expedition. None too happy when Mama Llama drags him away from his toys, the overall-clad youngster discovers there’s little to like at Shop-O-Rama: “Yucky music,/ great big feet./ Ladies smelling way too sweet./ Look at knees and stand in line./ Llama Llama starts to whine .” Forced to try on itchy clothing and wait while Mama deliberates over food items, her increasingly disgruntled progeny decides, “It’s no fun at Shop-O-Rama./ Llama Llama/ MAD at Mama !” Sitting in the shopping cart, he furiously throws would-be purchases on the ground, creating toddler-tickling mayhem and eliciting from Mama the tale’s reassuring message: “Please stop fussing, little llama./ No more of this llama drama ./ I think shopping’s boring, too—/ but at least I’m here with you .” After helping her offspring clean up the mess, Mama holds his hand as they push the cart together, finishing their shopping as a team. After Mama (in a parent-pleasing diversion) remembers where she left the car, they drive off (“Say good-bye to Shop-O-Rama”) and are then seen happily holding ice cream cones (“Llama Llama/ loves his mama”). Snappy rhythm, pleasing rhyme and large-scale art—plus the easily identifiable experience depicted—make this an involving read-aloud, one that will leave kids and parents hoping Llama has many more adventures ahead. Ages 2-up" (2007, Sept. 16).  [Review of the book Llama llama mad at mama].  Publisher's

     Weekly.  Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-670-06240-9.  

Booksense Book of the Year Award, Honor Book, 2008 

Suggestions for Use

*Children can have storytime and tell about their worst experience at the store

*Children can also describe their favorite ways to spend time with their parents