A Couch for Llama

December 15, 2017
When the Lago family has sat, spilled, and jumped on their beloved couch one time too many, a misadventure equal parts practical and absurd begins.The racially mixed family of five (dad has brown skin and straight, black hair; mom is white; children are brown) piles into their cramped car and travels through the rural setting into town, where the furniture store is having a sale. They find their new couch and strap it to the roof. On the way home, unbeknownst to the Lagos, the couch slips off the roof and into a field, where a curious llama awaits. At first the llama doesn't know what to make of the couch. It's unfriendly, tastes terrible, and won't move. Exasperated, he flops down on the couch--and then understands its function. When the Lago family returns to the field to claim the couch, the llama refuses to give it up. The family is too thoughtful to leave the llama empty-handed, so they come up with a plan to satisfy everyone. The sweet and silly premise comes to life through the illustrations. Small details express the family's tenderness and frugality. The llama is endearing, and his curiosity and playfulness shine. Readers may wonder, however, how the family manages to get this stubborn creature off of the couch, as this part of the action is conspicuously absent. A fun blend of realistic and ridiculous that will appeal to a broad audience. (Picture book. 3-7)

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January 1, 2018
Preschool-G The Lago family's couch needs replacing, so they set off for the furniture store, where, after a few Goldilocks-style tries, they find a couch that's just righta bright red, swoopy armed number. While driving home, the ropes securing the new couch to the Lagos' car come undone and, unbeknownst to the family, the couch flies off into a field. There, an astonished llama cautiously approaches the large red visitor and tries to welcome it by braying hello and sharing some tasty grassto no effect. After a quick nibble of the upholstery (disgusting!), Llama's interest fades into frustration over the couch's uselessness. So he pounces on it and is flung gleefully upward in a series of entertainingly illustrated bounces, until settling on the soft cushions, utterly smitten. Llama's expressively depicted interactions with the sofa are priceless, and his emotional journey verges on heartbreak when the Lagos show up to retrieve their missing couch. Luckily, their old one is perfect for llama lounging. This fun read is guaranteed to put a spring in any reader's step.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)