The Llama Who Had No Pajama: 100 Favorite Poems - Book Review

This post was written as a Master's course assignment for Texas Woman's University.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hoberman, Mary Ann. THE LLAMA WHO HAD NO PAJAMA: 100 FAVORITE POEMS. Ill. by Betty Fraser. 1998. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Co. ISBN 0152001115

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Mary Ann Hoberman's collection of witty, whimsical, humorous, and imaginative poems causes the reader to smile, starting on the first page. The initial rhymes carry the reader forth quickly as the poet muses on observations of all sorts: siblings, adventuring, animals and creatures, time, weather and seasons, food, and others. Each subject touches on a childhood memories that are universal, but that are told in a fresh, delightful way. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Hoberman's take on life through this collection of poems serves to offer us all a time machine back to the days of mud pies and playing make believe. The rhymes are well formed and perfectly matched; the meter is equal and pleasing to the ear. The author's humor is catching and the reader may find herself laughing out loud in several instances, especially the silly, singsong "Wishes," where the young girl desires a "nanny goat" to give her "nanny milk," and the exquisitely rhyming "Worm" that displays great creativity: "Jiggly/Ziggly/Higgly/Piggly/Worm." Each creature that appears within the lines of her poetry celebrates its unique qualities, especially the whale who is quite proud of his largeness: "he likes himself like that."

Hoberman is a master of word selection, executing such line rhymes as "brother/mother" and "father/bother" without letting the language get too tricky. She sets a high standard for letting the stanza fit the purpose exactly; one poem is only seven words long, but displays the idea perfectly and completely. "Windshield wipers wipe the windshield" is an example of a word arrangement that fits the topic, as the reader finds her head moving back and forth, "this way" and "that way" to follow the text. She also challenges the reader with several tongue twisters,  especially "Yellow Butter," which demands to be yelled aloud, and "say it quicker" each time.

The author also plays on words within words, as in "Rabbit," in which almost each line contains the word "bit" in some form, in a vertical line down the page: "bitter... itty-bitty ...rabbit." Hoberman also makes good use of alliteration and onomatopoeia, sometimes simultaneously: "flitter/flutter" and "pitter/patter." She also boldly uses made-up words, such as in the title poem, "The Llama Who Had No Pajama," where the charming "wumberly" appears in several places.

Betty Fraser's illustrations are timeless, classical, and full of creativity. The colors are bold but not too loud, with each illustration fitting around its poem. Each lovely page could stand on its own as an individual piece of art work displayed in a frame. The illustrator paints children of many different races, creating an air of inclusivity.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "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."

Review from THE HORN BOOK: "This collection of some forty years of Hoberman verse is a charmer."

5. CONNECTIONS

*See other picture books my Mary Ann Hoberman, including her YOU READ TO ME, I'LL READ TO YOU series.

*See other individual poet compilations such as YOU READ TO ME, I'LL READ TO YOU by John Ciardi, Illustrated by Edward Gorey, ISBN 9780064460606, and BIG TALK: POEMS FOR FOUR VOICES by Paul Fleischman, Illustrated by Beppe Giacobbe, ISBN 9780763638054.