"The LLama Who Had No Pajama" by Mary Ann Hoberman

Summary of The Llama Who Had No Pajama by Hoberman
This collection of poems by Hoberman includes a variety of subjects that kids will enjoy.  Focusing on activities and animals children love, the author provides a great introduction to the form of poetry.  Additional features are the illustrations by Fraser, which contribute to the child-friendly nature of the poems. 

Hoberman, M. (1998). The Llama Who Had No Pajama.  New York, NY:  Browndeer Press, Harcourt Brace & Company.

Personal Evaluation of The Llama Who Had No Pajama by Hoberman
What a fun read-aloud volume for young children to enjoy!  The words are simple and the illustrations kid-friendly. The variety of rhyming schemes and placement of words on the page contribute to the tone of these poetic creations. The author knows what small children like, with many of the poems circling around animals and common activities. Occasional humor adds to the reading experience. This is a delightful selection for toddlers through early elementary school age children.

Reviews of The Llama Who Had No Pajama by Hoberman
"Hoberman's poems, accompanied by Fraser's illustrations, have been delighting children for 40 years. Now, many poems from their out-of-print books are available in this satisfying collection. The selections are mostly humorous, sometimes contemplative, and deal with animals, family, play, and plain silliness. Hoberman's rhythms are lively and agile, and her imagination and sense of humor are still in tune with young readers. Fraser's simple but detailed gouache and watercolor illustrations exhibit the same qualities. The layout is masterfully varied and never overwhelms the poems. There is a table of contents as well as an index of first lines. Good for beginning or experienced readers of poetry, this should indeed become a favorite."
Review by Nina Lindsay, Vista School, Albany, CA for School Library Journal and Retrieved from Barnes & Noble.

"Although perhaps best taken in small doses, this collection of some forty years of Hoberman verse is a charmer. The poems-peppy verses immediately identifiable as Hoberman's by their use of alliteration and repeated words and lines-seem to cover every subject under the sun; all are dependably child-centered. There are insect riddles ("A big buzz / In a little fuzz") and animal tongue-twisters ("O gaze on the graceful gazelle as it grazes") as well as an ode to slippers and a paean to the versatility of applesauce. The ordering of poems is pleasingly informal but thoughtful. Further bonuses are Betty Fraser's delicate yet merry watercolors (Fraser also illustrated Hoberman's classic A House Is a House for Me) and the varied, imaginative page design that never overwhelms the text. Indexes."
Review by Horn and Retrieved from Barnes & Noble.

Suggestions for Use in Library or School
Portions from this book would be great for a story time at the library that focuses on a certain subject.  For example, a story time on alligators or crocodiles, could include the poem "Alligator/Crocodile." 

For a study on poetry, it would be nice to show the variety of styles and word placement as part of the beauty of poems.  Show examples.  On page 10, Brother and My Sister Saw a Dinosaur poems are presented in dialogue boxes.  On page 12, Whenever is a good illustration of how an artist can contribute to the understanding of the poem, with girls twirling in a circle, the subject of the poem. On page 18, Rabbit is a great example of how words can be placed on the page, almost like creating a picture with the words. It also has some word play elements (alliteration), such as "better bitter beet".   Meg's Eggs uses the shape of eggs to hold the words. Look at page 53; how come the elephant is the only one not an insect? (eleph "ant")  O is Open used the shape of "O" for the poem.  The rhyming scheme also differs with each poem.  My preference would be to read it aloud to hear the differences rather than analyze the poetry.