[3] Guides with advice for walking children through feelings along with reading the story and activities to follow have been published in recent years.

[8] The Michigan State University Extension guide suggests questions for parents to ask their children, such as “What do you do when you’re mad?” and “How did Llama feel at the store?”.

proposes acting out emotions with children and spending time observing the details of each character’s face and movements in every illustration.

Kirkus Reviews praises the story for the number of emotions which it presents, including “dismay, rage, chagrin, and delight”.

[8] Perri Klass, writing in The New York Times, comments that there is “no deep or profound lesson to be learned about obedience… it’s about cutting the drama and getting the shopping done”, appreciating the idea in the book that sometimes emotions need to be set aside.

[7] In a 2013 Wall Street Journal essay, Dewdney wrote that “as parents… it is up to us to teach children how to function on the planet”.

asks the interested parent if they have “ever gone shopping with your child on a day where he just doesn’t want to go”, suggesting that the story may assist them with this difficulty.

[10] South Dakota State University Extension contributes suggestions for making grocery shopping an opportunity to connect with young children, such as “playing iSpy” or “giving your child a job”.

[12] Publisher’s Weekly praises the story for the “easily identifiable experience” that will leave “kids and parents hoping Llama has many more adventures ahead”, emphasizing the bonding which an adult and a child can discover through the tale.