Anna Dewdney is single-handedly responsible for making the lowly llama one of the most recognized characters in early-childhood lit. The Vermonter's seven Llama Llama picture books, which explore topics ranging from temper tantrums to separation anxiety, have all been New York Times best sellers. The Chicago Tribune praised her as a "geographer extraordinaire of the emotional terrain of preschoolers and their mothers."

In her latest installment, Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa, Dewdney writes about Llama's sleepover at his grandparents' house. Grandma lets him ride on a tractor, and Grandpa helps him craft a wooden chair. But there's one big problem: Llama has forgotten his beloved stuffed animal. Grandpa digs up a special llama toy he had when he was a boy as a stand-in for the real thing. This sweet, rhyming tale celebrates the idea that — whether they're of the llama or human persuasion — grandparents have a knack for saving the day.

Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa: Viking Books, $17.99. Ages 3-5. September 1 release date. Visit llamallamabook.com for more information.