Book Descriptions
for The Littlest Llama by Jane Buxton and Jenny Cooper
From The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
A young llama looks for someone to play with high in the mountains of what could be a South American landscape. The text is related in rhyming couplets, and the plants and animals typical of that region are found in the detailed illustrations. djg
Originally published by Mallinson Rendel New Zealand, in 2005.
Bridges to Understanding: Envisioning the World through Children's Books. © USBBY, 2011. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
The littlest llama has a problem--one that every child will understand. He's eager to wrestle, jump, and chase all day, but there's no friend nearby who wants to play.
...the grown-up llamas had work to do. They had food to find and cud to chew...There was no one to play with the littlest llama.
No one had time, not even his mama.
So the dejected little guy sets off without a goodbye in search of a playful pal. Soon he's crossing the ridges and bridges of the high altiplano where he lives. But is he going too far? And who will he find?
The charming Andean-themed art features soft and gentle hues, as well as beautiful page borders that look like traditional weavings. Plus, they turn llama's journey into a fun game, as kids try to locate the rattlesnake, chinchilla, cougar, and other animals in the images. A preoccupied llama may not notice them--but children will find the varied and unusual creatures irresistible.
The satisfying ending will delight everyone, and every child will relate to llama's desire for a playmate and joy at a new sibling.
...the grown-up llamas had work to do. They had food to find and cud to chew...There was no one to play with the littlest llama.
No one had time, not even his mama.
So the dejected little guy sets off without a goodbye in search of a playful pal. Soon he's crossing the ridges and bridges of the high altiplano where he lives. But is he going too far? And who will he find?
The charming Andean-themed art features soft and gentle hues, as well as beautiful page borders that look like traditional weavings. Plus, they turn llama's journey into a fun game, as kids try to locate the rattlesnake, chinchilla, cougar, and other animals in the images. A preoccupied llama may not notice them--but children will find the varied and unusual creatures irresistible.
The satisfying ending will delight everyone, and every child will relate to llama's desire for a playmate and joy at a new sibling.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.