Llama Llama Mad at Mama

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY JUL 16, 2007

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.