Anna Dewdney (1965–2016)

Even though this is a children's board book, I am including it in my adult shelf. Because I think this book might have saved my bacon.

My two-year-old has not been sleeping well. She fights off sleep at bedtime, asking for "more song" and "mama sleeps too" and "mama sit," and no matter that I do what she asks, she immediately wants the opposite. And heaven help me if I just *leave the room*. But when a different family member takes the point on naptime or bedtime, she lays down quietly and show more falls asleep on her own. It was pretty clear to me that it was something about Mama -- either her knowledge that if Mama said it, it would be so, and she's in a period of exercising her independence, or an anxiety over Mama being "not right here." The fraught bedtime translates in to a fraught night. Waking up after just a couple hours, and spending a couple hours wanting to redo the bedtime routine. Lots of tears.

Llama Llama Red Pajama is the story of Baby Llama, in his red pajamas, who reads a story with his Mama Llama....you get the idea. Mama Llama goes downstairs to get a cup of water for Baby, and is distracted by dishes and a phone call. Baby Llama freaks out that Mama Llama is GONE. Mama Llama rushes back in a frenzy and reassures Baby Llama that "Mama Llama's always near, even if she's not *right here*."

Girl Child was entranced by this book. Her favorite page, of course, is the one where Mama Llama comes back. As Child and Daddy read this story together at bedtime (after I'd already read it twice with her), I deliberately went in and out of her room as much as possible sorting laundry and picking up toys to illustrate that Mama always comes back when she leaves. And then the bedtime routine began.

She climbed in bed. We sang one bedtime song. She asked for another. I said I was going to go sit with Daddy for five minutes and if she was awake when I came back, we'd sing another song. She nodded. I went, set a timer, and then returned. She was awake, so we sang a song. She asked for another and I said I'd be back in five minutes. She nodded. I went and set the timer again. After five minutes, I went in and rubbed her back. I don't know if she was awake or asleep. I suspect awake. But she didn't make a peep and she slept straight through til 6:30 this morning. We are going to try for a repeat of this miracle tonight. Our first solid night of sleep in OVER TWO WEEKS! show less

I think Llama Red Pajama deserves 3 out of 5 stars. The story shows a bedtime moment many kids understand a little llama tucked into bed, his mom giving a bedtime kiss, then leaving the room. Soon the llama begins to worry, feeling alone and afraid, and he calls out for his mother. As his anxiety grows the rhymes carry the drama well and the bright, expressive pictures show how scared and sad he becomes. When Mama Llama finally comes back, she reassures him that she loves him and that even show more if she’s not right there she’s still nearby. I like how the book captures that big feeling of being scared at bedtime and then offers comfort and safety at the end. The rhyming and the illustrations make it a warm read aloud. On the flip side the strong worry and crying from Baby Llama might feel intense for some children rather than calming. For me this book works well most nights, but sometimes I prefer a gentler bedtime story. show less

Llama Llama Home with Mama is a warm, comforting picture book about being sick and the ups and downs that come with it. Llama wakes up feeling yucky, and Mama takes care of him with soup, books, and rest but eventually Mama catches the same cold. Then Llama steps up by bringing tissues, fluffing her pillows, and reading together. The rhyming in this book is playful and soothing and fun to follow along with. Dewdney’s illustrations show just how not fun colds are but also how caring for one show more another makes everything better. What I like is how the book shows both sides, what it feels like to be young and sick and what it’s like when your parent is the one who needs support. Young readers will relate to the yucky parts like sniffles and medicine and the tender part like the love and care. A good pick for home when someone’s not feeling the best. My toddler will choose Llama Llama books daily. show less

Llama, Llama red pajama waiting, waiting for his mama. Mama isn’t coming yet. Baby Llama starts to fret. In this infectious rhyming read-aloud, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama! Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goes downstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn’t come right back. But just in time, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama’s need for comfort, as much as parents show more will appreciate Mama Llama’s reassuring message show less