What’s the difference between a frog and a toad? A clam and an oyster? Or a butterfly and a moth?
As an animal lover and alpaca mama, you can imagine how tickled I was to see Karen Jameson’s latest book “A Llama Is Not An Alpaca.” I don’t recall how often people have asked me how my llamas are doing. My standard response is, “they are alpacas, NOT llamas.” Yes, there is a big difference. Kudos to my friend Karen Jameson, who is also one of my clients, for understanding this distinction and penning a book about this and other misidentified animals.
The book is written by Karen Jameson and illustrated by the UK-based illustrator, Lorna Scobie. It was published by Running Press Kids and will be officially released on March 7, 2023.
Here is the book in a nutshell: Animal riddles posed in delightful poetic language paired with scientific facts about animals accompanied by adorable illustrations. Kids will love this book and teachers will find it a perfect addition to their classroom libraries.
The question-and-answer portion of the book is written in delightful rhyme, while the additional factoids are noted in prose. This is a clever separation between the two elements of the book. It allows for a lyrical and engaging first read that will have kids shouting out the answers to the riddles. Then, on subsequent read-throughs, the factoids can be studied and the illustrations explored. Not only is this a great read-aloud, but it is also a book that kids will want to read over and over again.Lorna Scobie’s illustrations are darling. The expressions of the animals are sweet and make even the scarier alligator less daunting. The bright and vibrant colors of the art match the vibe of the infectious rhyme and give the book a happy atmosphere.
I give this one an enthusiastic thumbs up. The book will be a perfect gift for a teacher, animal enthusiast, and picture book lover. You can get the book through most bookstores and online sources. Here is the link to the publisher’s book page: A Llama Is Not an Alpaca by Karen Jameson | Hachette Book Group
Learn more about Karen and her other books at www.karenljameson.com.
