Harley

by: Star Livingstone
ill: Molly Band

Summary:
Because Harley the llama does not get along with other llamas, he becomes a guard llama, protecting sheep from hungry coyotes and befriending a cantankerous ram.

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1587171503
ISBN-13: 978-1587171505

Mommallama review:
This is a great book. Bubba read this (age 7), and thought it was a great story. The other boys enjoyed sitting and listening to him read it.

I would say the reading level would be for a really good first grade reader, or an easy read for a second grader.

Farmer Boy

by: Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 1867-1957

While Laura Ingalls grows up on the western prairie, a boy named Almanzo Wilder is living on a farm in New York State. Almanzo and his brothers and sisters work at their chores from dawn until supper most days, no matter what the weather. There is still time for fun, though, especially with the horses, which Almanzo loves more than anything.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (May 11, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060581824
ISBN-13: 978-0060581824

The Llama household is about to do a read aloud on this book!

The Tale of Despereaux

by: DiCamillo, Kate.

Ill: Ering, Timothy B. ill.

Newberry Honor book

The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 11, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763625299
ISBN-13: 978-0763625290

A few topics discussed in this book are some what difficult for younger children to understand, or may find scary. These darker things would include, a child sold into servitude, child abuse, hate and revenge. Even at age 9, I think it should be a supervised read so that a parent can explain what is happening.

The Llama boys did enjoy this book as a read aloud, and I can easily see them picking it up later on their own for another read.

Movie review: Um, the title and a few of the characters share the same name, but the plot has very little to do with what is in the book. I was disappointed in the movie from that respect. Although, I would have found it very difficult to tackle some of the subject matter on the screen. I think that the movie lacked the over arching symbolism that permeated this books so well, and I feel that that is a real loss for the audience in the theater. The movie as a stand alone is fine, cute, and in some parts quite humorous. The boys thought that the movie was a completely different story line... a part 2 or something until we explained that it was supposed to be the same story.