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Library | Material Type | Item Barcode | Shelf Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library | Juvenile Picture Book Hardback | 120791002433324 | J P ROS | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
What happens when opinionated Julia tries to teach her carefree little brother, Charles, how to behave at a tea party? This sweet and silly take on the classic manners theme is filled with sibling antics, laugh-out-loud moments, big imagination, and plenty of heart, making it perfect for readers of modern classics such as Fancy Nancy and Ladybug Girl. It's also great for parents of tantrum-throwing preschoolers looking to impart some wisdom on how to cope with life's surprises.
Julia wants nothing more than to teach Charles proper tea party etiquette, but things are not going as planned. The tiny sandwiches have been gobbled up by the dog, Charles is using sugar cubes as building blocks, and the neighbor kids have eaten the centerpiece. Will Julia and Charles find a way to play together?
Reviews (3)
Horn Book Review
A girl named Julia describes, practically through gritted teeth, the proper way to act at a tea party; subterfuge-filled illustrations show her brother and young neighbors doing everything they can to thwart her perfectionism. Julia's voice isn't convincingly childlike, but the message is solid: as Julia realizes by book's end, her propriety is as extreme as the party crashers' behavior. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
With such a mischievous little brother, what's a young hostess to do? As Julia plans and sets up her backyard tea party, younger brother Charles runs rings around and through it with the cute family dog, Rexie. And not far away are the McKagan brothers, redheaded twins with googly eyes, who match Charles prank for prank. They eat the peonies on the table (while Rexie is eating the tablecloth), and one of them stacks the teacups on his head. The metajoke of this book is that the text reads like a set of instructions written by Miss Manners that hint at the chaos shown in the pictures. "You may bring a stuffed animal. And a present. / Do not eat the peonies. Or the tablecloth!" Julia loses her temper and sends the boys away with big angry words that fill the page. But a tea party for one is not much of a party. She reinvites the boys and even allows Rexie to return. Before long, she's playing as rambunctiously as they are, building a rocket ship out of sugar cubes and climbing the big backyard tree. Rosenberg's prose is apt and economical, playing right into the humor of the book's digital illustrations, created with Photoshop. Ross' repertoire of facial expressions is a highlight. Fizzy and sweet if not exactly groundbreaking. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
When throwing a tea party, a host expects certain decorum. However, when Julia invites her younger brother, Charlie, she learns a thing or two about expecting the unexpected. Julia starts her tale by listing party-planning steps. However, things go downhill when Charlie brings a snake to the table, builds a teacup tower, and allows the dog, a frog, and the twin boys from next door to join in. Chaos ensues. After banning everyone and attempting to have a quiet, solitary tea party, a bored Julia eventually understands that If you can't beat 'em, join 'em and decides to reinvite her guests and enjoy whatever happens. Photoshop digitally composed illustrations leave plenty of white space and feature brightly colored, energetic, and engaging scenes with action galore. Pair this with Caterina and the Perfect Party (2013), by Erin Eitter Kono, to show that being spontaneous can have its rewards.--Owen, Maryann Copyright 2014 Booklist