Llama Out Loud: jam-packed with fun and laughter!

“Yasmin Shah is a ten-year-old girl who is part of a big, noisy family and doesn’t ever speak. Levi is a rude, sassy toy llama, who talks A LOT and has come to wreak havoc in Yasmin’s life. Yasmin tries everything she can to escape Levi, but she can’t help being dragged along on his crazy antics – and every day brings a new surprise, whether that’s an erupting bin, a flying tuna fish, or a hat made from knickers. Life is never boring with Levi around – and could it be that he has a secret plan to help Yasmin find her voice?”

Llama Out Loud is a brilliant new story that is full of mayhem, mischief and ban puns. It’s well paced and the illustrations by Allen Fatimaharan are brilliantly done! It follows the story of Yasmin, a young girl who can’t find her voice in a world where she’s surrounded by noise. One day, while out shopping, she finds a llama. He ends up tagging along in her life bringing absolute chaos in his wake. When the two are paired up, they are on a mission to help Yasmin find her voice and the knowledge that she deserves to be heard even in the loudest of crowds. 

I loved that this book had representation of diverse characters, and FUNNY ones at that! It is so important for us to show diverse characters in our stories so our children can see themselves and others! Yasmin’s family was a lot of fun to read about – the noisy, extended family all living in one house! 

There were times where I just thought Levi was a bit much, but I can see that kids will ABSOLUTELY love him. His pranks, his jokes, his general demeanor: it’s all going to tick the box for a whole chunk of children and that’s what matters! I did laugh a lot at him, but my god, Levi, give poor Yasmin a break hah! There’s a lot of frivolity in this book, whether it’s Levi playing pranks in Yasmin’s home, trouble at school or disrupting life at the old people’s home, you know that life with Levi around isn’t going to be plain sailing… or boring! 

It was very cleverly done to put these two characters together because you essentially get chalk and cheese and Levi helps Yasmin in more ways than I think she even imagined! 

Within all of this shambles of life with Levi, there are some brilliant messages about friendship, believing in yourself and standing up for yourself. Yasmin starts the book as a meek and mild character, but throughout her madness with Levi, she starts to find herself and it’s lovely to watch. 

I think this book is going to be brilliantly popular with Year 3s/4s, or kids who just love a funny book! 

My Goodreads review:

A massive thank you to the publishers Egmont for inviting me on the blog tour and for sending me a review copy! I know a load of children who will be happy to have this in our library! Go check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour… 

S x