The drama llama

It's hard to have anxiety. It would be even harder if a giant llama showed up every time you're anxious, letting everyone around you know what you're going through. This is the plight faced by young Alex, whom we meet surrounded by little purplish thought clouds of a dinosaur chasing him, his father scolding him, a rain cloud pouring on him, and a bird pooping on him. And when Alex is especially anxious, as when he's called on in class or asked to participate in an egg-on-spoon race during sports day, a huge llama, pink with purple forelocks, sporting a Peruvian chullo stocking cap with ear flaps, is right there, visible to all. Usually the llama vanishes after the anxiety-provoking situation is over, but one day the llama refuses to leave, even rampaging--and profusely spitting--in the cafeteria. The rhyming text, goofy full-color illustrations, and nods to "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and Flat Stanley make Alex's problem relatable. The ending offers tips on "How to Calm Your Llama."

A young boy realizes that articulating his fears just might put them in their place. Poor Alex Allen is beset by anxiety. He frets about not knowing the right answer in class, having two left feet when he's dancing, and dealing with disagreements with his sister. As his worries mount, they morph into a larger-than-life purple drama llama that follows Alex everywhere. The animal even disturbs his rest, taking his place in bed and leaving Alex sleeping on the floor. Alex makes several attempts to get rid of the pesky beast, but all fail, and the llama takes over his life, eventually becoming "almost bigger than a bus!" Wise teacher Ms. Myrtle then takes pity on the youngster and suggests that talking about his fears might put the llama in its place. Confiding in Ms. Myrtle helps, and while the llama doesn't disappear altogether, it does end up becoming small enough to handle--an effective metaphor for coping with anxiety. The rhyming, descriptive text, reassuring message, and helpful coping strategies make this a good read-aloud choice. Set against plentiful white space, the colorful, loose-lined Photoshop illustrations offer humorous and relatable depictions of Alex's worried response to the ever-growing llama. Alex is brown-skinned, Ms. Myrtle is light-skinned, and his class is diverse. Backmatter includes tips for taming a drama llama. A solid selection for those youngsters plagued by drama llamas--you know who you are! (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.