You can't go wrong with Llama Llama. I especially like this one because it shows that it's okay to miss home and have mixed feelings even when you're with people you love. Also a good reminder that sometimes all you need to feel safe is a soft stuffy. ( )

AR: 1.6

Genre
Picture books for children
Stories in rhyme
Storytime standouts
Tone
Feel-good
Illustration
Cartoony
Theme
Grandparents and me
Subject
Bedtime
Grandparent and child
Llamas
Sleepovers
Stuffed animals (Toys)

It's Llama's first overnight stay with Gram and Grandpa. Mama drops him off with his overnight bag, but Fuzzy Llama was left in the car! Gram and Grandpa do their best to make their house "home away from home" for Llama, and at bedtime, Grandpa produces his own stuffed animal from childhood.
Kid and grandparents are both drawn realistically for this first experience (e.g. Llama is reluctant to tell them why he's sad; he tries a new food that he's skeptical about but ends up liking; he delays bedtime and they roll it into a new activity). ( )

This is a great book for young readers. Llama is getting ready to spend his first night away from his parents. He packs everything he needs to spend the night at his grandparents house, but when he gets there, he realizes that he forgot his fuzzy (stuffed animal). Luckily his Grandpa still has his stuffed animal from when he was younger, and gave it to Llama. This book addresses the common theme of children being homesick and feeling alone. Llama learns that it is ok to be at her grandparents house over night. It was a home away from home and with grandpas stuffed animal, he was not alone. ( )