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Llama Llama
Llama Llama Holiday Drama
Llama Llama holidays. Jingle music. Lights ablaze. How long till that special date? Llama Llama has to wait. If there's one thing Llama Llama doesn't like, it's waiting. He and Mama Llama rush around, shopping for presents, baking cookies, decorating the tree . . . but how long is it until Christmas? Will it ever come? Finally, Llama Llama just can't wait any more! It takes a cuddle from Mama Llama to remind him that "Gifts are nice, but there's another: The true gift is, we have each other."
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2010
About the author
Anna Dewdney
110 books370 followersAnna Dewdney was an award-winning children's-book author, illustrator, teacher, mother, and enthusiastic proponent of literacy and reading aloud to children. She was the author of the bestselling Llama Llama Red Pajama series of picturebooks, among many others. She lived with her partner Reed Duncan in Vermont where she worked, gardened, and spent time with her daughters and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
March 2, 2018
"Sometimes we should take some rest and hold the one we love the best."
Coming across a good children book series is a matter of celebration. Very engaging story and illustrations.
Coming across a good children book series is a matter of celebration. Very engaging story and illustrations.
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December 8, 2022Another adorable book in the Llama Llama series! A great book for kids (and adults!) who can sometimes forget the true meaning of the holidays amidst all the hustle and bustle. -Jennifer W.O.
Find a copy at Scottsdale Public Library
Find a copy at Scottsdale Public Library
December 24, 2012
This is a sweet story about the INTERMINABLE wait for Christmas to arrive, told in rhyme, and featuring adorable, fuzzy animals. The moral of the story? Learn to live in the moment, and when you do have that big meltdown, make sure Mama is nearby for a quick cuddle.
December 17, 2012
I love the concept of this book. It takes time to explain a Christmas message that we really should all contemplate when we get stressed about all the things to do for Christmas. It shows all the anticipation and waiting and how it really can be wearing. But the message in the end is:
"Come and listen, little Llama. Have a cuddle with your mama. Sometimes we should take a rest and hold the ones we love the best. Wishing, waiting, wanting things... we forget what this time brings. Gifts are nice, but there's another - the true gift is we have each other."
I want to read this every Christmas. It's a great seasonal reminder for everyone.
"Come and listen, little Llama. Have a cuddle with your mama. Sometimes we should take a rest and hold the ones we love the best. Wishing, waiting, wanting things... we forget what this time brings. Gifts are nice, but there's another - the true gift is we have each other."
I want to read this every Christmas. It's a great seasonal reminder for everyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2021
I liked when he was getting tired of waiting, and then the book said, "llama llama holidrama!"
December 22, 2021
I thought I'd already read a Llama Llama holiday book, but I guess it wasn't this one. (Honestly, the Llama Llama catalogue is a pretty extensive one.)
In this book, Llama Llama and Mama are busy getting ready for Christmas. There's so much to do! Shopping, baking, decorating... It all culminates in a tummy ache and a little llama who's had more than enough. It's up to Mama to remind him that Christmas is about love and being there for each other.
The pictures are cute (especially the one of Llama Llama when he keels over from too much holiday cheer), and the overall message is good. I did find the rhythm of the rhyming text uncharacteristically clunky in spots. I also don't like the way the book keeps using the word "holiday" when it means "Christmas". A dreidel is mentioned once, but make no mistake: This is a book about Christmas, despite that word not being used even once. The elves, the countdown to the 25th, the present shopping, decorating a tree... This is Christmas, not some generic winter holiday, or even a combination of holidays. So... that was annoying.
Other than that, though, this is a book that Llama Llama fans will want for their collection. It's full of the fun of the Christmas season, and parents will be able to relate to the overloaded kid at the centre of it all.
In this book, Llama Llama and Mama are busy getting ready for Christmas. There's so much to do! Shopping, baking, decorating... It all culminates in a tummy ache and a little llama who's had more than enough. It's up to Mama to remind him that Christmas is about love and being there for each other.
The pictures are cute (especially the one of Llama Llama when he keels over from too much holiday cheer), and the overall message is good. I did find the rhythm of the rhyming text uncharacteristically clunky in spots. I also don't like the way the book keeps using the word "holiday" when it means "Christmas". A dreidel is mentioned once, but make no mistake: This is a book about Christmas, despite that word not being used even once. The elves, the countdown to the 25th, the present shopping, decorating a tree... This is Christmas, not some generic winter holiday, or even a combination of holidays. So... that was annoying.
Other than that, though, this is a book that Llama Llama fans will want for their collection. It's full of the fun of the Christmas season, and parents will be able to relate to the overloaded kid at the centre of it all.
December 14, 2022
Current favorite book in our home, my 20 month old and us parents love it. At first I thought it was too long but the way the Llama Llama books roll makes it work, and I know she will still read it next year.
March 13, 2022
When I was younger I was impatient and in a rush for Christmas. As an adult I love the time leading up to the big day so much more.
June 5, 2019
Leila 10 stars: that llama llama was making cookies
December 12, 2020
#recomadare
#cartipentrucopii
#vârsta2+
@Editura Nemi
Lama,lama de Crăciun (o carte despre nerăbdarea copiilor de a sosi Crăciunul, despre obiceiuri, tradiții....dar nu în ultimul rând, de a nu uita unele dintre principalele aspecte importante ale Crăciunului (timp petrecut alături de cei dragi,de a fi împăcați și mulțumiți cu ce avem)
In fiecare zi a lunii decembrie i-am citit lui Damian cel putin o carte cu tematica :iarna, Crăciun .Damian are acum 5 ani,dar asta nu înseamnă că nu-i place să redescopere cărțile pe care i le-am citit începând cu vârsta de 2 ani.
https://youtu.be/jqdCMbtHhhU
#cartipentrucopii
#vârsta2+
@Editura Nemi
Lama,lama de Crăciun (o carte despre nerăbdarea copiilor de a sosi Crăciunul, despre obiceiuri, tradiții....dar nu în ultimul rând, de a nu uita unele dintre principalele aspecte importante ale Crăciunului (timp petrecut alături de cei dragi,de a fi împăcați și mulțumiți cu ce avem)
In fiecare zi a lunii decembrie i-am citit lui Damian cel putin o carte cu tematica :iarna, Crăciun .Damian are acum 5 ani,dar asta nu înseamnă că nu-i place să redescopere cărțile pe care i le-am citit începând cu vârsta de 2 ani.
https://youtu.be/jqdCMbtHhhU
December 9, 2017
Another fun and festive installment in the Llama Llama series! We got this one as a surprise when our library had a table of gift-wrapped books - you had no idea what you were getting when you checked it out, just a general idea of the age range! I've read a couple of the Llama Llama books to my baby and he seems to enjoy the rhythm and rhyme - he was grinning at me the entire time I read this one to him!
December 21, 2020
Gifts are nice, but there’s another
The true gift is we have each other.
Wonderful book. I loved the artwork, but it is kind of strange that many of the images were of dreidels and there was a mention of a dreidel as well. It is certainly a Christmas story it mentions one day. It was just strange as per it is not about Hanukkah 🕎 at all.
The true gift is we have each other.
Wonderful book. I loved the artwork, but it is kind of strange that many of the images were of dreidels and there was a mention of a dreidel as well. It is certainly a Christmas story it mentions one day. It was just strange as per it is not about Hanukkah 🕎 at all.
November 29, 2017
Adorable!
December 31, 2019
A cute children’s book with appealing pictures tells the story of a young llama who gets overwhelmed with all the prep work and anticipation that goes into making the holidays. In the end, the book reminds us that it’s really love and the thought that counts!
January 7, 2021
It wasn’t a favorite with my kids but it was a good reminder for me as a mom during the busy holiday season 💝
December 16, 2020
A little on the long side.
December 5, 2018
This is an awesome and unique story about Christmas. It gets kids thinking about too much celebration at Christmas, offering a different perspective.
December 23, 2021
Llama llama is overwhelmed by holiday drama. What to do? How will Mama Llama solve this to do? Nice but not one of the best in the series. Ok take though on how overwhelming the holiday season can be.
January 16, 2018
As you can tell we love the Llama Llama series.
Of course it falls in with the holidays. During the holidays there is the hustle and bustle. Cooking, shopping, caroling, and visiting family. As we shop we have our kids, can't get what we need when they are with us, but the fuss when they are not with us. Parties at school and at work, baking goodies to take and lots of taste testing. In the book there are many things we do just like in real life. The kids have a good time decorating and waiting on Santa. However, there are some kids who get presents and some that don't, but the best thing that some of the kids have is someone to love them and be with them.
I think the Llama Llama series are good bedtime stories and my kids love them.
Toddler.
Of course it falls in with the holidays. During the holidays there is the hustle and bustle. Cooking, shopping, caroling, and visiting family. As we shop we have our kids, can't get what we need when they are with us, but the fuss when they are not with us. Parties at school and at work, baking goodies to take and lots of taste testing. In the book there are many things we do just like in real life. The kids have a good time decorating and waiting on Santa. However, there are some kids who get presents and some that don't, but the best thing that some of the kids have is someone to love them and be with them.
I think the Llama Llama series are good bedtime stories and my kids love them.
Toddler.
January 7, 2016
Kids found it dull, with only one or two questions. Apt ones, though.
Kids: Why does Llama have a stocking on his bed?
Me: Maybe he doesn't have a fireplace?
Kids: Why?
Me: Perhaps he lives in an apartment.
Kids: But why doesn't he have a fireplace in an apartment?
Me: [...]
Them: [...]? & etc.
If we're going to embark on a let's-avoid-bedtime-via-questions odyssey, I'd rather it not be inspired by an illustrator trying to shoe-horn in a cute picture of Llama sleeping with a symbolically filled stocking, an illustrator who didn't expect to be called on the implausibility of the scene by a 2 year old. (Really, does anyone hang stockings on their bed?)
Even considering the rhyme-scheme driven limitations, Llama doesn't seem to act like an impatient kid, more like an overdramatic teenage girl.
And fine - I was triggered, as my more politically correct brethren might say. The holiday in question is clearly Christmas - menorahs are sprinkled amidst the not-Hanukkah trees in the store but none are in Llama's house. Instead, Llama's mom is baking not-Hannukkah cookies and there's a not-Kwanzaa tree and a non-Eid stocking. The dreaded C-word is completely unmentioned. I guess this is to please desperately PC librarians/school districts, but I was nettled. And perfectly willing to be nonplussed at the whole "well, of course a completely generic holiday celebration is a Christmas one!" vibe. Look, half my family is Buddhist and they don't celebrate "holiday" with a "holiday tree", "holiday stockings", "holiday cookies" and so on. It's Christmas all the way.
I might've just chalked up this feeling to something idiosyncratic and not let it reflect in the "official" star rating, but, as mentioned earlier, the kids didn't care for it.
2/5. Llama trauma.
Kids: Why does Llama have a stocking on his bed?
Me: Maybe he doesn't have a fireplace?
Kids: Why?
Me: Perhaps he lives in an apartment.
Kids: But why doesn't he have a fireplace in an apartment?
Me: [...]
Them: [...]? & etc.
If we're going to embark on a let's-avoid-bedtime-via-questions odyssey, I'd rather it not be inspired by an illustrator trying to shoe-horn in a cute picture of Llama sleeping with a symbolically filled stocking, an illustrator who didn't expect to be called on the implausibility of the scene by a 2 year old. (Really, does anyone hang stockings on their bed?)
Even considering the rhyme-scheme driven limitations, Llama doesn't seem to act like an impatient kid, more like an overdramatic teenage girl.
And fine - I was triggered, as my more politically correct brethren might say. The holiday in question is clearly Christmas - menorahs are sprinkled amidst the not-Hanukkah trees in the store but none are in Llama's house. Instead, Llama's mom is baking not-Hannukkah cookies and there's a not-Kwanzaa tree and a non-Eid stocking. The dreaded C-word is completely unmentioned. I guess this is to please desperately PC librarians/school districts, but I was nettled. And perfectly willing to be nonplussed at the whole "well, of course a completely generic holiday celebration is a Christmas one!" vibe. Look, half my family is Buddhist and they don't celebrate "holiday" with a "holiday tree", "holiday stockings", "holiday cookies" and so on. It's Christmas all the way.
I might've just chalked up this feeling to something idiosyncratic and not let it reflect in the "official" star rating, but, as mentioned earlier, the kids didn't care for it.
2/5. Llama trauma.
November 1, 2016
1. Book Summary in your own words
Llama llama does not like to wait. It is the one thing he hates the most. But with the jingle music and blazing lights, he has to wait for the special day. But for how much longer?
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades: PreK-1
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
Christmas, Compassion, Kindness
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who need to learn patience and compassion.
5. Small group use (literature circles)
In small groups, students will be given the task to create ways that Llama Llama can patience.
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
As a whole class, we will discuss why it is important to be kind and compassionate and why we need patience. Then, we will talk about what our favorite part of Christmas is.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area
Genre: Comedy
8. Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nzar...
Llama llama does not like to wait. It is the one thing he hates the most. But with the jingle music and blazing lights, he has to wait for the special day. But for how much longer?
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile
Grades: PreK-1
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area)
Christmas, Compassion, Kindness
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading
Students who need to learn patience and compassion.
5. Small group use (literature circles)
In small groups, students will be given the task to create ways that Llama Llama can patience.
6. Whole class use (read aloud)
As a whole class, we will discuss why it is important to be kind and compassionate and why we need patience. Then, we will talk about what our favorite part of Christmas is.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area
Genre: Comedy
8. Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nzar...
December 27, 2012
2.5
Having just read Snicket's Latke book, it was clear that this book was wanting. The rhymes and cadence of all books in the Llama series are pleasant. The book itself has little meat.
They always end with the little llama hugging and kissing its mom. That's nice, but the lessons seem to be fairly non-existent/the same. While it's not bad, it's not great.
As I have said previously, there are many people who will disagree with me on this series. It almost certainly is a book that will appeal more to little girls, although as best as I can tell the llama is a boy. I think parents may like these books because the characters "learn" something, and end up listening to and cuddling with their parents.
Still, I'm not a big fan after my second dose and will put these to rest. No more llamas for me...
Having just read Snicket's Latke book, it was clear that this book was wanting. The rhymes and cadence of all books in the Llama series are pleasant. The book itself has little meat.
They always end with the little llama hugging and kissing its mom. That's nice, but the lessons seem to be fairly non-existent/the same. While it's not bad, it's not great.
As I have said previously, there are many people who will disagree with me on this series. It almost certainly is a book that will appeal more to little girls, although as best as I can tell the llama is a boy. I think parents may like these books because the characters "learn" something, and end up listening to and cuddling with their parents.
Still, I'm not a big fan after my second dose and will put these to rest. No more llamas for me...
November 28, 2016
This is the second Llama Llama book I've read to my toddler (this one was given to him as a gift), and I think they are cute. The rhyme trips off the tongue and holds my son's attention, and I think everyone can relate to the little llama getting overwhelmed by all of the holiday festivities before Christmas has even arrived.
ETA November 2016: My two-year-old is really into this book this Christmas! I read it to her last night and she seemed pretty delighted with it, and then tonight at bedtime her dad told her to pick a book and she didn't want any of the books from her shelf and was stomping around in tears saying "My book! My book!" In a total guess I said, "Do you want the Llama Llama book?" and she said, "YES!" so I went and grabbed it from the stack in the living room and she settled down immediately. She's sleeping with this book in her crib as I type.
ETA November 2016: My two-year-old is really into this book this Christmas! I read it to her last night and she seemed pretty delighted with it, and then tonight at bedtime her dad told her to pick a book and she didn't want any of the books from her shelf and was stomping around in tears saying "My book! My book!" In a total guess I said, "Do you want the Llama Llama book?" and she said, "YES!" so I went and grabbed it from the stack in the living room and she settled down immediately. She's sleeping with this book in her crib as I type.
December 23, 2015
Other llama books are a little funnier, but this one also has the lesson like the others and this is a great one for children. The holidays are full of SO MUCH, and no one should forget the important things.
12/16/15 Used in literacy moment during preschool storytime. Unfortunately, I had kids who were mostly too young, and a couple of the right age who were way too shy. So only one kid came up who knew their letters. The rest either just stood there and couldn't participate or didn't bother to come up at all. Seriously--made it through 3 pages and there were no kids participating. The entire storytime was a bomb, so this didn't phase me too much.
12/16/15 Used in literacy moment during preschool storytime. Unfortunately, I had kids who were mostly too young, and a couple of the right age who were way too shy. So only one kid came up who knew their letters. The rest either just stood there and couldn't participate or didn't bother to come up at all. Seriously--made it through 3 pages and there were no kids participating. The entire storytime was a bomb, so this didn't phase me too much.
December 30, 2018
This is another great Llama Llama book! Simple rhyming text that begs to be read aloud is paired with sweet illustrations and VERY fun, festive endpapers. In this one Llama Llama is waiting and waiting and waiting for Christmas Day. He becomes so impatient that there is a bit of holidrama. Mama Llama has to teach him about the true gift of the holiday season. Young children impatient for Christmas will definitely understand and sympathize with Llama Llama. I highly recommend this one for bedtime read-alouds during the holiday season!
August 2, 2015
I found this book to be ok. Pretty dime a dozen, typical rhyming book. The illustrations were cute, but didn't really push the book over the edge for me as some can do. I agree with another reviewer that it shocks me that it has such high ratings.
December 26, 2015
This book was the Indianapolis Public Library's Call-A-Holiday story this week, and I wasn't familiar with the series, but even hearing it (without being able to see the illustrations), I thought it was adorable. Then, I looked up the illustrations online and they were well-done, too!
December 9, 2015
Llama Llama is anxious for the arrival of Christmas day, the countdown is much too long for him to wait ,and Mama keeps him busy. Through all the anticipation she gently reminds him what is most important of the day as it approaches.
December 25, 2019
I tried to gently guide the girls away from reading this in May, but they wanted to. It was quite good, unique in the holiday books we’ve read in that it deals with being overwhelmed by all the activity and fuss and waiting that surrounds the holiday season.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews