Last week the literary world lost one of its greatest children’s authors: Anna Dewdney, author of the Llama Llama series. Anna Elizabeth Luhrmann was born on Christmas Day 1965 and grew up in Englewood, New Jersey. Her father was a psychiatrist and her mother was also an author, writing books for young adults. Before discovering her Llama, Anna illustrated several children’s books, her first being The Peppermint Race by Dian Curtis Regan. The idea for Llama Llama came to Dewdney while on a road trip with her two young daughters. As they passed animals on the road, she would ask her girls the sounds the animals made. One farm had a llama and she would say “llama-llama-llama.”
The Llama Llama series was first published in 2005. The simple rhyming books easily convey to preschoolers experiences that worry this age group, like being afraid at night, first day of school, and dealing with bullies. In addition to her 17 Llama Llama books, Dewdney also published Roly Poly Pangolin, Nobunny’s Perfect, Grumpy Gloria, and Nelly Gnu and Daddy too.
Prior to her passing, Dewdney asked that instead of flowers parents read a book to their children before bed. Anna Dewdney died on Sept. 3rd, 2016 at her home after battling brain cancer.
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney on 2009
Length: 40 pages
Reviewing Paperback Rating:
Strange new teacher.
Strange new toys.
Lots of kids and lots of noise!What would Llama like to do?
Llama Llama feels so new . . .It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool! And Llama Llama’s mama makes sure he’s ready. They meet the teachers. See the other children. Look at all the books and games. But then it’s time for Mama to leave. And suddenly Llama Llama isn’t so excited anymore. Will Mama Llama come back?
Of course she will. But before she does, the other children show Llama Llama how much fun school can be!
In Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama is heading to his first day of preschool. Mama takes Llama to meet his teacher, see his classroom, and meet the other students. Llama Llama is excited until it’s time for Mama to leave. Will Mama come back?
I love this sweet story. My little man was anxious when he started preschool. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with him, and I had never left him with someone he didn’t know. Llama Llama’s first day was a lot like ours. It helped to ease my son’s fears prior to starting. And of course proved that Mama comes back 😀
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