TEATIME WITH EMMA BUTTERSNAP

There are many manuals on tea and tea parties, but Tate steps out of the lacy tablecloth variety to serve up a tea party within a story, told by the plucky young Emma Buttersnap. The excuse is a visit to her Aunt Pru in England, the precept, to learn about the history and origins of tea and tea-drinking as well as to present crafts, recipes, and hints for making the perfect cuppa. Instructions for making invitations, creating menus, and choosing teapots are outlined in Emma’s conversational narration; Bronson shows her as a perky doll of a girl in her round-buttoned pink dress and rebellious braids. Predominant purples and pinks will appeal to the tea party set, as will the antics of casting tea overboard in imitation of the Boston Tea Party, or the sight of tea poured out from a pot atop Emma’s head into cups atop the heads of her cats. The book can be read Ö la carte, with individual sections on preparing finger sandwiches and setting the table, or full service, where children can cozy up to Emma’s story about her aunt’s birthday, complete with a tea party fit for a queen. (Picture book. 4-8)