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Book Review #75

 The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Author: Judith Kerr

Publisher:‎ Candlewick; Reprint edition (August 6, 2019) - first published in 1968.  
ISBN: 978-1536209624
Reading Level: 3 to 7 years

Main Characters: Sophie, her mummy, her daddy, and the tiger who came to tea. 

Plot: Just a normal day for Sophie and her mummy, when the doorbell rings and a tiger comes to tea! The tiger eats and drinks everything in the house. 

Settings: Sophie's house

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's classics, tigers, teatime, tea, children's humor. 

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? What kid wouldn’t want a tiger to show up for teatime? It’s cute, farfetched, and loads of fun. I loved how Sophie and her mummy went to the store and bought a big can of tiger food, just in case he came back for teatime again. Smart thinking!

Critical Analysis: I love this style of whimsical humor. Everything is going along like a normal day and then a tiger shows up for tea!  The story never addresses the reason the tiger shows up for tea. I think it is fun to ask kids why they think a tiger showed up for tea. Do tigers like tea? I get a lot of creative answers and I often ask them to write or draw about their ideas. The backstory for the tiger can be a terrific writing/drawing session.

When Sophie and her mum explain to daddy that a tiger came to tea and ate and drank everything in the house, daddy seems quite undisturbed. They all go out to a café for a lovely dinner. 

It’s cheeky and a little absurd, but really quite good fun for kids. (I also enjoyed the audio version of the book read with a British accent.)  

Illustrations: The illustrations are very nostalgic for me. They portray childhood as a simpler time.   

Awards: Judith Kerr was awarded an OBE in 2012 for her services to children’s literature and Holocaust education, the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and in 2019 was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards.

Connections: The Tiger Who Came To Tea - Read Aloud

If you can not find a single copy of the above story, it can be found in The Judith Kerr Treasury.

Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks; International edition (November 6, 2014)
ISBN: ‎ 978-0007586530
Featuring:

The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Mog the Forgetful Cat
One Night in the Zoo
The Other Goose
When Willy Went to the Wedding

National Iced Tea Month!

Photo taken from Lipton

June is National Iced Tea Month!

Join the fun and grab a glass.

Presweetened southern "sweet tea" or without the sugar, it's great served on a 

hot summer day.

The Sweet Tea Line – the Real Border Between North and South

"On the eighth day / God made sweet tea"

Book Review #74

 Happy National Hamburger Day!  

Celebrate May 28th with a book about dinosaurs and hamburgers!

The Dinosaur Who Discovered Hamburgers

Author: Adisan Books

Publisher: Adisan Books, 2021

ISBN: 978-1088003480

Reading Level: 3 to 5 years

Main Characters: Scout and Dr. Ham Burger the 12th

Plot: Scout the dinosaur goes on a journey to find a great food dish. He discovers the ingredients he needs and visits Dr. Ham, the smartest dinosaur in town, to help him put it together. All the dinosaurs love Scout's new discovery...the hamburger. The dish was so popular that the dinosaurs made andishes International Hamburger Day to celebrate it!

Settings: The story takes place in an imaginary location with rivers of  "Ket-chup" and "Mus-tard." 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Picture Book, Dinosaurs, Adventure, Children's Humor, Food.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? I think kids will enjoy the silliness of the book, especially those that love dinosaurs and hamburgers.

Critical Analysis:The book was a little longer than I would have preferred, and parents might need to explain how food is actually grown or made for younger readers. For example, the "Bread Forest" full of buns might confuse kids if they do not already know how bread is made. Older children might get the humor easier with less work for parents. However, this is a great book for celebrating National Hamburger Day, because the book actually references the holiday. 

Connections: The Dinosaur Who Discovered Hamburgers Read-A-Loud

Book Review #73 - Happy Mother's Day!

 All The Things Mom Will Never Say

Author: Noé Carlain
Illustrator: Ronan Badel

Publisher: Schiffer Kids, 2022

ISBN: 978-0764363313

Reading Level: Ages 4 through 8

Main Characters: An excellent little peashooter, his cat, and his mom. 

Plot: Things you will probably never hear a mom say to her kid. 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Humor, Moms, Picture Books, and Parenting. 

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This might be one of my new favorite books. It is too clever and both parents and kids will appreciate the humor! This would be a great gift for any parent or kid. In fact, I think it would be a fabulous gift for Mother's Day. 

I think I laughed out loud several times. I know I’ve said, “Keep dressing up the cat - He loves it!” several times…not! 😾

Critical Analysis: The book is a short read, but kids will want to read it over and over. Its strength is in its relatable humor. I think every parent has had moments like the mom of this excellent little peashooter.

It also offers parents a few preemptive teachable moments. One example would be in the illustration of the dinner table piled high with dirty dishes and Mom says, “Its ok not to clear the table - were going to eat again tonight.” The image of the dirty table really drives home the need to clear the table. It’s a great way for kids to visually see what the table might look like if he does not help clean up before the next meal.

The book ends on a positive note, with mom expressing her love for her kid despite the frustrating moments that parents endure. It is a great reminder for parents, that all of these frustrating moments are worth it in the end. 

"Parenthood…It’s about guiding the next generation, and forgiving the last."

~~Peter Krause

Connections: All The Things Mom Will Never Say 

Happy Mother's Day!

May the Fourth Be With You!

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