Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Beloved books inspire charming, family-friendly series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Llama Llama
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 27 parent reviews
Parents say the show presents valuable life lessons and character development suitable for preschoolers, and many appreciate its gentle pace and wholesome message. However, some critiques focus on its perceived lack of depth compared to the original book series, with concerns about annoying character voices and the handling of family dynamics, particularly the absence of a father figure.
- valuable lessons
- gentle pace
- character development
- family dynamics
- some critiques
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 7 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Anna Dewdney's beloved book characters arrive on the small screen in the animated series LLAMA LLAMA. Starring Jennifer Garner as the voice of Mama Llama, Llama Llama tells the story of adventurous young Llama (voiced by Shayle Simons) and his best friends Nelly Gnu (Islie Hirvonen), Luna Giraffe (Vania Gill), and Euclid Sheep (Brenden Sunderland). Stories generally center on Llama coping with a challenge of some kind, from fretting over a change to dealing with a meanie at school. When he turns to Mama Llama for help, the two talk about his feelings and devise a constructive way of handling the situation.
Is It Any Good?
This sweet series is every bit as relatable and affirming as the books that introduced these delightful characters to millions of grateful fans. As in Dewdney's picture books, simplicity is key to Llama Llama's success. Everything from the classic animation style to the gentle dialogue serves to focus viewers' attention on the stories and their solid themes of friendship, family, kindness, self-expression, and self-control. There aren't a lot of bells and whistles here, but that's by design, and it works beautifully for the show's purpose.
Even without knowing the books, viewers will quickly fall in love with plucky Llama Llama, stalwart Mama Llama, and the assortment of other animal characters who populate these endearing stories. Happily, the tales lean heavily on the books' content for inspiration, so the episodes will look and sound familiar to fans who have read (or listened to) them, even if the conversational dialogue takes some getting used to after Dewdney's trademark rhyming verse. Perhaps best of all, such strong crossover between written word and screen entertainment is an excellent opportunity for parents to enjoy the heartwarming Llama Llama stories in both forms with their kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Llama Llama's relationships with his friends. How does he respond when he's upset by something someone else has done? How does it help for them to share their feelings with each other? Why is it important to consider other people's feelings?
Do Llama Llama and his friends always enjoy trying new things? Can doing so be scary? Exciting? Why is it important to be open to change? How can experiencing something new change you?
In what ways is Mama Llama a good role model for Llama Llama? What positive character traits do you see in her -- for example, empathy? How does she encourage Llama Llama to make good choices? Does he always like the advice and guidance she offers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 26, 2018
- Cast : Jennifer Garner , Shayle Simons , Islie Hirvonen
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate