You all know I have a co-dependent relationship with my local library. Nothing new about that. One of the things I appreciate is that it’s on the right-hand side of the street, heading south from my house. This means that I drive by it on almost ever errand I run so stopping to return books or pick up something that is on hold is incredibly easy.
Two Saturdays back, returning a couple of books was the first item on my to-do list. As I was putting the books on the return belt I noticed that there were a bunch of Llama Llama signs along the garden side of the building as well as a massive banner across the front window.
I might have talked about the Llama Llama books back when I discovered them but in case I didn’t – they are kids books, a long series of them, about a young llama and his family. They’re quite cute. This is the first one:

Anyway, I texted YA as I got back in the car that they were having a Llama Llama reading. As I headed south from the parking spaces in front of the library, I saw that the parking lot was blocked off with some kids games. Then I saw a couple of tents. Then I saw the llamas. At the light I texted YA again that there were live llamas at the library. Her response… “You’re going around the block right now, aren’t you?” Aaah, she knows me well.
I know the head librarian so after I had waited in line (the only adult without a kid in tow), we chatted a bit about Llama Llama Day. This was the third Saturday in a row that one of the Hennepin County libraries had hosted the llamas. Apparently there are a few more scheduled over the summer. I asked him if the library system was moving the Llama Llama books around so that there were plenty to check-out at each library who was having the llama party. He was surprised that I knew that; I reminded him that I’m an event planner by trade.
I got to pet all of the llamas before I returned to my list of errands. Later when I got home, I pulled my Llama t-shirt out and wore it the rest of the day as I considered all the various events that I might have planned if I’d been a library planner instead of an incentive travel planner.
What book do you think would make a good library event?
Some immediately leap to mind: all the obvious popular ones like Harry Potter, The Grinch, and others. The one I’m thinking of is popular too, I guess, but it might be fun to set up a mini-farm with a baby pig, chickens, ducks, lambs and a big spider.
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Woops! Charlotte’s Web, of course. It’s too early in the morning for me.
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I expect Millions of Cats might be harder to wrangle than a llama or two.
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Or “A Hundred and One Dalmations.” JacAnon
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Rise and Shine, Baboons from JacAnon,
When we were spending winters in Fountain Hills, AZ we lived across the street from the library which was located next to a sculpture garden that included a large public space. One day as I stood on our third floor deck looking over there, I saw a horse trailer pull up in that space to the library front door. Three small ponies were led out of the trailer and into the library. I ran over there because I HAD to know what was going on, but I knew that horses inside anywhere create all kinds of potty problems. Those horses were outfitted with a sort of bag strapped over their rear ends to catch any, ummmm, detritus that they might create. So the children’s event proceeded with kids petting and examining the ponies. There was a book associated with the event, but I do not know what the book was. Following the indoor event, the ponies were out on the public space for the public to enjoy. This event created all kinds of interest.
I will be thinking all day about books to feature at a library event. Given recent national events, my mind keeps moving to civics-minded books about Constitutional issues, such as presidential impeachments. There could be effigies featured with any number of activities. I want to change the name of “Alexander and his Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Day” to #45 and his Terrible, Horrible, Very Bad Presidency.
Children’s books are much more fun than public affairs of great import.
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Elephant and Piggie (Mo Willems) would be an attention getter.
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That does sound like fun, VS! I would probably have driven around the block too…
This jumped out at me: I pulled my Llama t-shirt out… – of course you have a Llama t-shirt…
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and in one of those kind of coincidences that just happen, the T-shirt is from the Carlson Llama Farm and the llamas at the library that day were from the Carlson Llama Farm!
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“Of all the llama farms in all the towns in the world bringing llamas to libraries, these llamas walk into mine…”
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Stupid WP…
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I have a beautiful llama hat as well. One of those brightly colored things with the tassels, but it’s too warm to wear it in June.
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I have llama socks.
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College kids taught me about this song:
https://youtu.be/zRozKfYGFVc?si=FbdSnM6v5L9cEJIN
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The llama song. 🙂
When I was a kid, I would have wanted a ‘Knights’ Day.
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How about Chronicles of Narnia – there could be fawns and satyrs, talking animals, esp. Reepicheep…
(We’ve been reading one of these aloud lately.)
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Fauns and satyrs roaming around the library would definitely get attention. Not necessarily the kind the library was hoping for.
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… fauns and satyrs…
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Oh good grief – I didn’t even look, just thought I had written “fawns and satyrs” the first time.
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Looks to me like you did.
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Yes, when I wrote the last comment, I was looking at Bill’s… Uffda, what a comedy of errors.
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There’s a kids’ book title I Want My Hat Back that I am fond of. You could build an event around people bringing hats and exchanging them or giving them away, or not giving them away.
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Donald trump the art of the deal
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The idea of anything to do with DT anywhere near a library is revolting.
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I
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I thought the question was how to draw a crowd
the banner would read… mak libraries great again the crowds would be the largest every seen at any event in the history of mankind
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Testing
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