Reviews for Tea Party Today: Poems to Sip and Savor

The average rating for Tea Party Today: Poems to Sip and Savor based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-09-25 00:00:00 Paul Barlow A poem book for young learning to read students. This book reminded me of when I was little and would have tea parties at my grandmas house! If you have never had a tea party or are planning to have one, these poems bring a sense of expertise and excitement for the party. These poems are also great examples to use when teaching about poems and rhyming in the classroom. My favorite poem is about tea and what is favorited around the world, sold on the street or in the market. "My favorite place in all the world for tea is home with you" (Spinelli, 1999)

Review # 2 was written on 2010-01-03 00:00:00 David Hargis This is a charming poetry picture book. Poems are cleverly arranged in stages of having a tea party: shopping, creating invitations, preparing, brewing, and entertaining. Teatime Tips ("Teatime and Poetry make a splendid pair!") accompany each poem, ranging from recipes to activities to placating party poopers. Dugan's whimsical illustrations are faintly reminiscent of Tomie DePaola's soft rounded style, but have more color and action. The pictures, people with a multicultural cast of cheerful children, portray movement in every sense. Spinelli's text has trouble keeping up with Dugan's smooth style. Some of the poems have odd rhythms due to forced rhymes, but in most cases, the desired effect is achieved, whether it be one of bustling preparation ("Pots clank/Glasses clink/Water gurgles/in the sink") or calm lazy afternoons ("Brown sugar sand is soft and sweet/This day is good enough to eat"). With curriculum connections potential in a variety of subjects, this book is a worthy purchase for any library serving younger elementary grade students - in spite of Spinelli's need for a bit more polishing in the poetry department.