Anna Dewdney, author of the adorable Llama Llama series of picture books, passed away, but Reed Duncan continues her series with Llama Llama’s Little Lie. Here, a rambunctious Llama Llama roughhouses inside with his friend while Mama Llama works in the garden. When Mama Llama’s favorite photo frame is broken, Llama Llama gets scared and gives a series of wild explanations to Mama Llama, but he knows telling lies is bad.

When Mama Llama asks for the truth, Llama Llama bursts into tears and reveals he broke the frame. Mama Llama tells him she’s proud he told the truth and helps him fix the frame, only to go outside a break a window herself while playing ball!

This is a sweet story which conveys important lessons with the lightest of touches about the value of honesty and the fact everyone makes mistakes. Told in a simple rhyme that is fun to read aloud, this is story that will be read repeatedly for the joy of the language and may have little listeners picking up the words and the lessons along the way.

(Originally published on the Manhattan Book Review and donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)