Adorable and endearing Llama Llama, who made his first appearance in Dewdney’s Llama Llama Red Pajama (2005), returns, this time throwing a temper tantrum at the Shop-O-Rama. Mama takes quick control of the situation, first getting Llama Llama to stop throwing all of the groceries out of the shopping cart and then speaking gently to him: “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.” Together, the two clean up the mess, finish the shopping and then go for ice cream. In clever rhymes that will induce giggles in readers of all ages, Dewdney creates a touching resolution to an all-too-familiar parental predicament. The well-told story, along with the bold colors of the illustrations and the precisely rendered expressions on Llama Llama’s face—from dismay at having to put away his toys to go shopping, to rage as he throws his temper tantrum, to chagrin in its aftermath, to pure delight as he enjoys his ice cream cone—make this a perfect choice for preschool read-alouds. (Picture book. 2-5)
