The Littlest Llama
Up on the altiplano, the littlest llama wants to have fun, but the other llamas are busy. He sets off on a short journey to find playmates, but something “fierce and orange and round like the sun” (a child’s ball) chases him, and he scurries home, frightened. There, a surprise awaits: a new baby llama to play with, and also, most important, Mama’s comforting cuddle. Though somewhat lengthy, the descriptive rhyming text will make a lively read-aloud, while the beautiful, intricately detailed color illustrations extend each scenario. In shifting multiple perspectives, the art shows expressive llamas and other creatures to seek and find in the beautiful landscapes. Throughout, the text and art give a strong sense of llama behavior, from dust bathing to neck wrestling, and incorporate South American cultural elements, including each spread’s textile-style page borders with llama motifs. Children will enjoy and sympathize with the cute little llama and relate to his feelings of boredom, loneliness, and reassuring relief when he’s back in the comfort of family and home. Preschool-Grade 2. --Shelle Rosenfeld