CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS 

Reviewed by Peter Webster peter@llamas.co.nz

Children's stories have the potential to inform as well as entertain. Also the quality of the pictures is important in a child's picture book. And just because the word llama is in the title, the story may not even be about llamas. A case in point is “Lleonard the Llama that Lied”. Here is a modern parable about the folly of lying, and the llama drew the short straw. "Hey, Bernie -" said Lleonard —"Honey drips from those trees!" When the bear reached inside - He got stung by mad bees!" Eventually Lleonard learnt his lesson and came right.

Entertainment value 2/5. Picture value 2/5. Information value 1/5.

Another book pitched at younger readers is "Is your mama a llama?" I really enjoyed this one, based on a series of riddles that are sure to result in a resounding chorus of response. "She hangs by her feet, and she lives in a cave. I do not believe that's how llamas behave." "Oh," I said. "You are right about that. I think that your mama sounds like a ..." The drawings are beautiful, and every animal is smiling. I'm not sure our baby llamas would be so patient when looking for their mothers! 

Entertainment value 4/5. Picture value 4/5. Information value 2/5.

"Mama's Llamas" is also aimed at younger viewers but it's really about llama owners. Mama buys llamas regularly until it becomes hard to move around the place. "So Papa made a poster and hung it on a tree: Buy a llama for ten dollars, the second one is free." The llama drawings are my favourite, maybe it's the big, big eyes. When Mama gathers the llamas to tell the bad news, they look so sad. How could Papa go through with it?  Also I like the paragraph at the end that explains the basics of llamas.

Entertainment value 5/5. Picture value 5/5. Information value 3/5.

"Llama Hiking with Katie" isn't in rhyme but the drawings are very childlike in a nice way. It's also written as if by a young girl whose family regularly treks with their llamas. This story is almost totally information, covering a lot of the basics. Some of the language is particularly American - "We wash our dishes a long ways from the stream," and perhaps the attitude of Forest Rangers is different to our own Conservation Dept—"Ranger Dan says llamas are kind to the environment, they don't make loud, scary noises, and they are great packers. "They are one of my favourite animals" says Ranger Dan." There's a lot of common sense stuff here and what the writing lacks in the entertainment factor, the colourful drawings more than make up for. 

Entertainment value 3/5. Picture value 4/5. Information value 5/5.

 
The last book in this group, "Pedro drives the Llamas" was published in 1958 as part of a series of educational publications, from a time long ago it seems now, when school children were told a series of 'facts' in a story, written as dry as a desert! But it's superbly done, and shows the bond between a subsistence family & their 'workhorses.' "Llamas only work well for their masters if they are treated gently." It tells the story of young Pedro & his father walking all day with their llamas over a mountain pass to town to sell some potatoes. The llamas walk freely in front, and the leading llama wears bells around his neck. "Pedro's father has just made them halt by whistling to them. He did this because he heard a lorry coming behind them." By selling their potatoes they can buy barley, some of which other Indians in the village will pay for. There's a great little end paragraph here - "Before they have their meal, Pedro gives his mother a little present which father bought in the town. It is a necklace, and on the end of the chain is a tiny model llama." The pictures are classics of the time, each one a little artwork of super-real early cartoon style, all bright colours. After the story there's a Can You Remember section with questions eg. How does Pedro help his father? How does his mother make yarn from llama wool? Why are llamas more useful than horses or mules in the high mountains?

Entertainment value 2/5. Picture value 5/5. Information value 5/5.

FROM THE LLAMA’S LIPS

By PercyLlama@xtra.co.nz

           It’s mid-winter and, like other llamas up and down the country, I’m quite pleased to be wearing a decent fleece.  Though we have only half a dozen frosts a year here in Motueka, the winds blowing over the ridge at our place can be very chilly.  We don’t really mind the cold too much, provided our minders haven’t stolen too much of our fleeces in pre-summer shearing, left our staple too short, or done that heinous job too late to allow a good growth of fleece before winter.  A goodly supply of tucker is also essential over these months as we use more to keep warm.

  On cold winter nights, my boys head for Llama Lodge around dusk and stay inside all night protected from the elements.  In the morning, dry fleeces at breakfast-time usually provide evidence of a cosy night spent huddled together.  If it has rained and they have been slow getting into the shelter, there are usually seven llama-shaped wet outlines on the ground where their fleeces have dripped during the night.  An elongated extension often reveals those who have slept peacefully with their necks out-stretched.   As herd leader and macho male supreme, I stay outside and on guard in all weathers.  Well, someone has to look out for pumas, not to mention that black dog next door!  Yes, I do sometimes get frost on my back, and if it has rained during the night our minders often say that I look like a drowned rat, but it doesn’t worry me.  I take my leadership role very seriously, and with the views from inside the Lodge restricted in three directions by walls, it is important that someone takes responsibility for watching out for danger while the others sleep.

  Although cold conditions are not a problem for us, and we like shelter and shade, we also relish bright sunshine and warm days. On cloudy or dull winter days with heavy skies, we often feel a bit flat and sometimes a little irritable. It’s the same after too many consecutive wet days.  On bright winter mornings, however, we feel really perky and the young ones will run about playing games while we older guys kush soaking up the sun, taking in the views and cheering them on.  Yip, as with humans, the collective mood of a llama herd is affected by the weather.

  Now, however, we are past the shortest day and we can start looking forward to longer and sunnier days.  Longer days in summer mean that we have more down-time from grazing and can rest up and relax for longer in the heat of the day.  Most of the literature on llamas describes how we kush in camelid style, and like shady places in hot weather. Yes, we all do that, but some of us also like to stretch out on our sides and sunbathe from time to time. It's a personal thing, some do, some don't, but boy does it cause a stir amongst the humans when they first see it happening.

  In my herd half of us like to lie out to sunbathe.  Ollie, who is a wily old chap, has a favourite spot on a wide, flat track where he lies out for a nap on hot summer days. He props his head on a conveniently raised low bank, which acts as a kind of pillow, and keeps one eye open checking that no liberties are taken by the rest of us.  You can see him doing this in the photograph.  And that little fellow who came from the North Island to join us in July a couple of years ago caused quite a stir by lying out on his side soon after he arrived on the property.  We think he was so impressed with the Nelson weather that he thought it was summer.

  It is Amadeus, however, who is the maestro of the prostrate slumber.  Known to the minders as the 'hamburgers and fries' llama of the herd, on hot summer days he emerges from the Lodge only when there is not a stalk of hay remaining and he has had a good sit around in the shade for an hour or so. He then makes his way up to the sentinel promontory mid-way up the ridge and eases himself down for some serious relaxation and sunbathing. First he goes into a conventional kush, but after a while he rolls over onto his side and takes up a death-throw posture, fully stretched out.  Gradually, as drowsiness overtakes him, he stretches out his neck further, extends his legs skyward and rolls slowly over onto his back with all four legs in the air.  There he lies, motionless and dead to the world, with the sun beating on his belly.  Those of us close enough to him hear the rhythmic sounds of contented snoring emanating from deep within his massive, exposed chest.

  I have included here a photograph of Amadeus in a typically sun-soaked moment.  (Some others of him totally up-ended were too indecent to publish. Even I had to blush!) The first time he did this the minders came running down slope, with ashen white faces and in a state of considerable panic. But as they approached, he

opened an eye, blinked and rolled slowly over down-hill to land neatly on his feet.  "Er.., is it grub time already? ", he muttered groggily, shaking himself awake. Ever the optimist that llama!

           It seems that Amadeus loves the warm sun on his tummy, and when he knows others are vigilant, he likes to spread his towel and take a nap.  The minders have tried to kit him out with his own pair of 'Dirty Dog' shades but he isn't keen on wearing them.  He's a vain boy and seems to roll slowly over to give equal tanning to both profiles.  We haven't told him that llamas' fleece only fades with exposure to sun, and we all have a good giggle at his antics.  When he goes belly up, some of us take the opportunity to check out his under-carriage.  It's interesting to sniff around, but as the young ones have found, you have to be really sure that he is well asleep or all hell breaks loose if he wakes and catches you!

One  memorable day last summer, an observant neighbour spotted Amadeus lying motionless on his back with all legs pointing skyward.  Poor lady, she was panic-stricken.  She tried to 'phone the minders, but they were in the garden and did not hear, so she ran right along the ridge to alert them that rigor mortis was imminent in one of their charges.  Just as she reached them, totally out of breath, Amadeus stirred and rolled over twice down-slope to regain his feet. "You b......r!" swore the neighbour in a mixture of indignation, relief and anger. It took two cups of tea to restore her heart rate to normal. We all enjoyed that, even if it will not happen again.

So don't be surprised if you see some of your llamas sprawling out full-length in the paddock well away from the dust bath.  Some of us really enjoy the warmth of the sun, at least in moderation, and it shows that we are really very relaxed and content.  But if you can't hear any snoring, or they stay that way too long, then please have your vet's telephone number handy.  Also, if you have been away for a while, don't believe the locum minders when they show you photographs of
prostrate llamas and tell you that some of your herd are addicted to Bourbon.  Oh, and warn the neighbours if one of your girls or boys is a prankster like Amadeus!