Llama Llama Shapes
This month’s book pick is Llama Llama Shapes. Illustrations were created by J.T. Morrow, based on the characters created by Anna Dewdney. This book is for our kids born in 2023.
Reading our board book this month made me miss reading them to Eleanor when she was younger. Those years fly SO FAST! So, our blog gives me a good opportunity to re-read some great books. This particular book is full of learning opportunities, especially for how little it actually is.
The best learning piece of Llama Llama is the shapes. There's one shape type per page, and depending on if your child is an older one year old or a younger one year old, there might be a bit of awareness of a shape or two, or there may not. Here's the great part-you’re here to help them with this! One of the best ways to use this book is to read the lines in the page, then take your child's finger and trace over the shapes on that page that you see, helping their little fingers outline it. It adds a hands on experience and, if your child isn't normally super interested in reading, helps keep their attention for longer, while adding in something for them to learn. There's wins everywhere! 😀
Another not as obvious idea about this book is presented in colors. Llama Llama and momma are going to the farmers market, which is full of colors! Point out colors and talk to your child about what they see on each page. Do they see an orange carrot? How about a red tomato? Or maybe some yellow corn? There are possibilities on every page. Don't feel like you have to only read the words in the book. Explore the whole book with your kid-they’re still young and still learning to sit with you to read.
Another exciting thing to do with this book is to have your child help you find the flower on each page. Momma’s shopping bag has a pretty flower, and the bag is on all but one spread. See if they can find it and point it out for you! Like I said, interaction with your book at this age is highly encouraged. Making reading something your child wants to do now will make your life easier in the long run.
You got this parents and caregivers! You're doing great! Happy reading this month!
