Maria Had A Little Llama

Summary

A young Peruvian girl named Maria takes her Llama everywhere with her. They are seen attached at the hip daily. No matter where Maria is going, her llama follows. What happens when Maria brings her llama to school? Will Maria’s teacher find it funny? Will the llama be sent home? Will their love be put to the test?

Theme(s):

Friendship, Cultural Appreciation, Love

Personal Response

I absolutely adored this short story. I loved how we had Spanish translations on every page similar to Marta! Big and Small. This book was too short in length but it is perfect for the pre-k to Grade 4 age group. My Spanish-speaking students love seeing books with Spanish translations like this one. They feel seen and appreciated in literature in more than one way. It makes sense that Marta! Big and Small and Maria had a Little Llama since they are written by the same author.

Teaching Ideas

I can see this story being used as a introduction to personal narratives. This story would be perfect to use with a first grade classroom. The students can write down what adventures they can go on with the llama or other animal of their choosing. Another idea is this text can be paired with Mary had a little lamb. The students can discuss the differences they notice between the two stories.

BOOK.tique