About the Holiday
Whether you have a dog or cat, hamster or fish, parakeet, iguana, or alpaca, your pet is one of the most beloved parts of your family. Sharing your life with a furry friend and their funny antics, eager personalities, and unconditional love simply makes things better. Today’s holiday encourages people to spend more time with their pet or pets by taking a longer walk, extending playtime, and giving special treats that show your them how much they mean to you. If you don’t have a pet, but have been considering getting one, maybe today’s the day!
Thank you to Beach Lane Books and Barb Fisch at Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of Alpacas Here, Alpacas There with me!
Alpacas Here, Alpacas There
Written by Carrie Tillotson | Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
Alpaca lovers here, alpaca lovers there, alpaca lovers everywhere will be charmed by these oh-so-soft-coated animals brought to life through Carrie Tillotson’s lyrical verses that introduce fact-packed text and Elisa Chavarri’s vibrant illustrations. As readers visit alpaca farms in the animals’ native South America and comparatively recent homes in North America (Tillotson reveals that alpacas were domesticated 6,000 years ago by Indigenous peoples in South America and developed finer fleece under Incan advanced breeding programs but were first brought to North America only in the 1980s), they learn similarities and differences in the animals’ lifestyles—and even how they’re a bit like humans!
Illustration © 2025, Elisa Chavarri; text © 2025 Carrie Tillotson. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.
Just like human moms sing to their babies, mother alpacas and their newborn crias hum to each other as a way to bond and also find each other in the midst of the herd. In describing how South American alpacas survive the snowy mountains by developing thick coats and North American alpacas find relief during hot summers by lounging in cool wading pools, Tillotson writes: “While winter brings its crystal shawl, / in summer’s blaze they laze and sprawl.”
And kids who are wary of haircuts may be envious of an alpaca’s grooming schedule: “Their fleece grows long. Then, once a year, / the farmers gather . . . time to shear!” While South American farmers follow traditional methods “to trim their alpacas’ fleece with hand shears or a knife, . . . in North America, farmers usually use electric shears.” And what happens to all that cut fleece? “Assorted colors flurry, whirl! / From fleece to yarn, they spin and twirl.” Alpacas fleece is so diverse that in South America “alpaca fleece is often categorized into twenty-two colors . . . and sixteen colors in North America.”
Illustration © 2025, Elisa Chavarri; text © 2025 Carrie Tillotson. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.
While people everywhere love the soft warmth of alpaca fleece clothing, they’re also smitten by the playful way alpaca’s “pronk and prance,” springing into the air with “all four feet off the ground at once with stiff, straight legs,” a “bounding dance” they often perform at sunset. Having learned so much about these captivating creatures, readers of all ages will agree “they warm the hearts and heads and hands of everyone across the lands.”
Extensive back matter includes an Author’s Note; an Artist’s Note; a look at the history of alpacas in South America and North America; Alpaca-raising Practices; a description of the four types of camelids found in South America; a Glossary; and a list of Selected Sources.
Illustration © 2025, Elisa Chavarri; text © 2025 Carrie Tillotson. Courtesy of Beach Lane Books.
Carrie Tillotson’s enthusiasm for her subject spills over into her delightful verses that will enchant young readers and her fascinating supporting text that will captivate nonfiction lovers. Tillotson introduces facts and new vocabulary with a natural flow that makes it easy for readers to grasp concepts and definitions, enhancing their appreciation for these gentle, endearing animals and the soft, warm, fleecy products they provide.
Elisa Chavarri’s vivid illustrations of alpaca farming in South and North America will bring plenty of “Awww!”s from young readers (and not a few adults, too!) as they meet baby alpacas snuggling with their moms, beating the heat in an inflatable wading pool, and most especially pronking close to home as the sun sets. It’s impossible to resist these alpaca’s tender eyes as they gaze directly at readers, inviting them to join in the fun.
Alpacas Here, Alpaca’s There is a wonderful compendium of facts and lore about these treasured animals. The poetic story is perfect for bedtime or story time, while the in-depth facts make the book a valuable resource for social studies lessons or school reports. The book would make a charming addition to home collections and an exciting choice for school and public library collections.
Ages 4 – 8
Beach Lane Books, 2025 | ISBN 978-1665942027
About the Author
Carrie Tillotson is the author of children’s books including Alpacas Here, Alpacas There and Counting to Bananas. After getting a master’s degree in public health, Carrie worked as a biostatistician for more than ten years and now sculpts her interests in science into playful picture books. Carrie lives in Oregon with her husband and son, two dogs, and two chickens. Visit her at CarrieTillotson.com. You can also find Carrie on Instagram and Bluesky.
About the Illustrator
Elisa Chavarri is an illustrator and artist working from Alpena, Michigan where she lives with her husband, daughter, and pets. Elisa attended Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned a degree in Animation. She is a native of Lima, Peru. You can visit her at ElisaChavarri.com and on Instagram.
National Love Your Pet Day Activity
Paw Print Magnet
A print of your pet’s paw makes a cute magnet for your locker to give you a paw…er, hand… holding those important messages and pictures. Here’s how to do this easy craft with your dog or cat.
Supplies
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/4 cup water
- Cookie cutter (optional)
- Bowl
- Wax paper
- Strong multi-surface glue or hot glue gun
- Strong magnet, available at craft stores or ribbon
- Paint (optional)
Directions
- Mix the flour and salt in the bowl
- Slowly add the water and mix the dough, kneading it until it is smooth and soft. Add more water if necessary.
- Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick
- Place the dough on the wax paper
- Carefully press your pet’s paw into the dough.
- Place the cookie cutter over the print and cut out. If not using a cookie cutter, cut a shape about 1/4-inch around the paw print.
- Bake the dough at 250 degrees for 1 to 2 hours depending on thickness of dough
- When it’s cool, you may like to paint your paw print
- Glue the magnet to the back or make a loop hanger with ribbon and glue to back
You can purchase Alpacas Here, Alpacas There at these booksellers
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop (to support your local independent bookstore)
Picture Book Review
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