Llama Llama Books; The Complete Guide to Anna Dewdney for 2023

Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney

Anna Dewdney’s Llama llama books have been a staple in our homes since our children were little. Her adorable illustrations, charming rhymes, and endearing way of addressing children’s worries made her a beloved author.

Sadly, in 2016 Anna passed away from brain cancer. Her legacy lives on in her works, and like Dr. Seuss before her, more books are published in her name each year.

There is also a Llama Llama animated series on Netflix with books inspired by that TV series. Jennifer Garner plays the much-loved mama llama in the series, currently with 2 seasons available to view.

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Llama Llama Books

Llama Llama for All Ages

When our kids were younger, Anna Dewdney’s rhyming picture books were the only books in the Llama Llama series. Since then, the publishers have added board books and early reader stories into the mix.

With different stories geared for different ages, and more than 40 books in the collection, it can make finding the perfect book for your child a bit confusing.

Check out the list of the Llama Llama books and the complete works of Anna Dewdney below, divided by age group.

Llama Llama Board Books

There are tons of Llama Llama board books in the Anna Dewdney’s beloved series. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites here, and included the remainder in the widget below.

The books in this category are aged towards babies and toddlers and help address fundamentals of learning and early reading readiness. For more books to help with developing pre-reading skills for babies and toddlers, check out our Reading Readiness series which has booklists and helpful tips to prepare your child for reading.

llama Llama nighty night

Author: Anna Dewdney

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Year: 2012

Genre: Board Books

Age: 1 – 3

More info:

This sweet board book focuses on Llama Llama’s bedtime routine, including snuggles with mama, tub time, and putting on his famous red pajamas.

Lots of people know Llama Llama Red Pajama, but it’s a little advanced for babies. This board book bedtime story is much more appropriate and the perfect way to introduce the book series to your baby.

Find this book in: Best Books for 1-year-olds / Bedtime Books / Llama Llama Books

llama llama colors and more llama llama books in the Anna Dewdney collection.

Learning with Llama Llama: Colors by Anna Dewdney

This sweet board book was gifted to us for review and I promptly read it to my 14 month old nephew. He happily sat transfixed as he saw all the colors in Llama Llama’s meal.

This is a great one for littles just learning their colors.

llama llama hoppity hop

Llama Llama Hoppity-Hop by Anna Dewdney

This is an adorable story that can help your baby work on their motor skills. Have them jump when Llama llama jumps, even if for babies that means just bending their knees.

Have them stomp when Llama Llama thumps, touch their toes…you get the picture. I love this one for toddlers who have trouble sitting during story time.

llama llama numbers

Learning with Llama Llama: Numbers by Anna Dewdney

Get your little one ready for preschool by teaching numbers with Llama Llama. Your toddler will love the cute illustrations and you’ll love that they will be learning numbers 1-10.

More Baby and Toddler Llama Books

Looking for more stories for your little one? Check out the rest of the board book series below.

Llama Llama Picture Books

The Llama Llama hardback picture books are the core of the Llama Llama book series. While the baby books and early readers are made for fans of all ages, this is the collection that endears Anna Dewdney in our hearts.

What makes each of these books so wonderful is how carefully Dewdney tackles everyday anxieties and problems that young children face.

From the first loose tooth to the first day of school, and having trouble sleeping to trouble with bullies, there is a Llama Llama book to help you address any problem your child may be facing.

Llama Llama Red Pajama and more llama llama books in the Anna Dewdney collection.

Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

As the original book in the Lama Llama series, Llama Llama Red Pajama has a special place in our hearts. It’s the story that introduced us to our pal and his amazing Mama Llama.

In this one, Llama Llama is having trouble falling asleep – something every child can relate to, but his behavior has Mama maintaining a firm but loving routine to help Llama.

Why I Like This Book: Every child has trouble with bedtime at some point. This sweet book helps kids realize they are not alone.
Appropriate for Ages 1-3
Find This Book In: Bedtime Books for Kids / Best Animal Books for Kids

Llama Llama Misses Mama and more of the first day of school books

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool and he is overwhelmed with feelings. He is trying to get used to the new toys and new surroundings but he just misses his mama.

Soon he learns that it’s OK to love mama and have fun at school too. This was recently turned into a Netflix book adaptation starring Jennifer Garner.

Why We Love This Book: A solid introduction to preschool separation anxiety and how kids can deal with it.
Appropriate for ages 2-7
Find this book in: Books About Feelings / Anna Dewdney Books / Books for a 3-year-old / First Day of School Books

You can find more books about the first day of school here.

llama llama mess mess mess

Llama Llama Mess Mess Mess by Anna Dewdney

This is one of the books written after Anna Dewdney passed away, but it’s still great. In this story, Mama Llama wants Llama Llama to help her clean.

When he resists, she has him picture a world where Mama doesn’t clean at all. Upset by how messy the house would be, Llama jumps right in and helps straighten up his toys.

More Llama Llama Books

If you want to round out your collection, you’ll find other classics like Llama Llama Mad at Mama, Llama Llama and the Bully Goat, and more in the widget below.

Holiday Llama Llama Books

We love the way Anna Dewdney tackles holidays. From Valentines Day to Christmas, and every holiday in between, these are perfect picks for your holiday loving little ones.

llama llama

Author: Anna Dewdney

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Year: 2010

Genre: Picture Book

Age: 2 – 4

More info: Part of the Llama Llama Red Pajama series

Our favorite llama is back and struggling with the hustle and bustle leading up to Christmas. He wants his gifts, but Mama has a very different gift in mind – time together!

This is a particularly good Christmas book for kids who misunderstand the holiday spirit and are consumed with “things.”

Find this book in: Llama Llama Books / Best Christmas Books for Kids

Llama Llama jingle bells

Author: Anna Dewdney

Illustrator: Anna Dewdney

Year: 2014

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1 – 3

More info: Part of the Llama Llama series

Short, easy sentences explain holiday festivities to little ones in this charming board book.

With the delightful illustrations of Llama Llama and friends, you’ll see why this is the perfect Christmas book for toddlers.

Find this book in: Llama Llama Books / Christmas Books for Toddlers and Babies

llama llama Trick or Treat

Author: Anna Dewdney

Year: 2014

Genre: Board Book

Age: 1-3

Hang out with Llama Llama as he gets ready for Halloween with his mom and then goes trick or treating with his little animal friends.

If you think Halloween could be frightening for your child, using a character they know and love to explain the concepts is a great idea! Llama Llama is a fav of mine for this reason.

Find this book in: Llama Llama books / Halloween Books for Toddlers

More Holiday Books featuring Llama and Mama

Llama Llama Early Reader Books

Llama’s popularity has grown over the years, especially now that there is a series on Netflix. Since the series draws in such a large audience, it’s not surprising that they have snowballed that popularity into a series of early reader books.

Kids love learning to read with books depicting their favorite characters and favorite episodes. There are lot of leveled reading books in the Llama Llama Young Readers collection, but these are our favorites.

Llama Llama Loses a tooth

Llama Llama Loses a Tooth by Anna Dewdney

Llama has a loose tooth and he wants to put it under his pillow, but he soon realized he lost his missing tooth during his busy day!

Llama goes on a hunt for his tooth, retracing his steps and getting his friends to help in search! Just before bedtime they have success and Llama Llama gets a visit from the tooth fairy!

llama llama learns to swim and more llama llama books in the Anna Dewdney collection.

Llama Llama Learns to Swim by Anna Dewdney

When his friends decide they want to go to the beach, Llama wants to learn how to swim.

Soon Mama Llama is teaching Llama and all of his friends how to swim in the pool. Even Grandpa Llama decides to learn how to swim too!

Read 9 more books about learning to swim here!

llama llama happy birthday and more llama llama books in the Anna Dewdney collection.

Llama Llama Happy Birthday by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama gets to celebrate his birthday in this adorable story. He wants to play with his friends when he gets a new plane, but no one will play with him.

He feels left out, but Mama tells him not to worry, sometimes things aren’t what they seem and soon he learns that they were actually planning a surprise party!

More Early Reader Books with Llama and Friends

More Books by Anna Dewdney

Anna Dewdney wrote a few other books that we wanted to include below. You’ll even find one about Llama Llama’s best friend, Nelly Gnu.

Did you find any Anna Dewdney books to add to your home library?