School Library Journal
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PreS-Gr 2—Featuring the late Anna Dewdney's beloved character, this volume in the "Learning with Llama Llama" series offers an inviting exploration of the various emotions a child may experience during a bedtime routine. Vocabulary describing a range of feelings ("joy," "surprised," "worried") is presented in colorful letters to make these words stand out from the rest of the text on the page, and the illustrations offer visual cues to accompany each emotion. The framing of the story around familiar childhood rituals lends a comforting feel to the narrative, and the rhyming text is easy to read aloud, making for a cozy story. Those seeking a deeper take on emotions may be left wanting more, as Llama Llama floats from one feeling to the next with minimal processing. Perhaps the surface-level approach will prompt discussions between adults and children about times they've experienced the emotions playing out on the page. VERDICT A good purchase for large picture book collections. It may not break new ground, but is likely to be a hit due to the enduring popularity of Llama Llama.—Allison Tran