The Tea Party in the Woods

by Akiko Miyakoshi, Akiko Miyakoshi (Illustrator)

Overview

When a young girl named Kikko realizes her father has forgotten the pie he was supposed to bring to Grandma's house, she offers to try and catch him as he makes his way through the woods. She hurriedly follows her father's footprints in the snow and happens upon a large house she has never seen before. Curious, Kikko peers through the window, when she is startled by a small lamb wearing a coat and carrying a purse. Even more surprising, the lamb speaks, asking her in a kind voice, “Are you here for the tea party?” Suddenly, Kikko realizes her trip through the woods has turned into something magical. Award-winning author and illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi has beautifully crafted an original fairy tale picture book that will delight and enchant. The unique visual presentation features mostly black-and-white art with the occasional use of red or yellow to help guide readers through the pages. Kikko's blend of courage and reticence along with her inquisitive nature makes her a character children will relate to, and the many unexpected twists and turns of her adventure keep the intrigue growing. The ambiguous ending --- in which it is not clear whether Kikko imagined the tea party or if the animals simply disappeared back into the woods --- provides a terrific opportunity for children to weigh in on what they think happened. This book also could launch classroom conversations about children's own experiences of being trusted with big responsibilities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771385947
Publisher:	Kids Can Press, Limited
Publication date:	08/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	54 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Akiko Miyakoshi was born in Saitama, on the island of Honshu in Japan. She began creating picture books while studying visual communication design at Musashino Art University. Her first picture book, The Storm, won the Nissan Children's Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix.

Editorial Reviews

Miyakoshi's illustrations are quietly magical. Viewed close up, they seem to be made of simple grainy marks, but if you hold the book at arm's length, the drawings take on the appearance of selectively tinted old photographs…It's a gem of a book, with just enough Grimm foreboding and a suitably enigmatic ending.

The New York Times Book Review - Sophie Blackall

... a beautiful Alice in Wonderland/Little Red Riding Hood mashup.—Quill & Quire

This is a delightfully unique story with striking illustrations ...—School Library Journal

The hardest part of letting children do things on their own ... is giving them an opportunity to fail ... which is why this amazing book resonated with all three of us.—Globe and Mail

The graceful proportions, atmospheric detail, and quiet, bewitching light of Miyakoshi's charcoals distinguish this small gem.—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Miyakoshi's fairy-tale-like language, fanciful scenes, and cheery ending make this offbeat take on Little Red Riding Hood perfect for sharing.—Booklist

As beguilingly surreal as the Mad Hatter's party, with its own enigmatic appeal.—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A superb, atmospheric mix of fairy tale and dream, wild woods and home comfort.—Toronto Star

... young readers will enjoy exploring The Tea Party in the Woods on their own while adults similarly will enjoy sharing it with the young people in their lives.—CM Magazine

... the varied delights offered by this strange, captivating picture book.—The Boston Globe

... simple, textured drawings are detailed enough to convey the characters' emotions.—School Library Connection

From the Publisher

Snow has fallen, and Kiko’s father has gone to Grandmother’s house to help clear her walkway. But he has forgotten to take a pie with him, and when Kiko discovers this, she decides to take the pie to Grandmother herself. It is a long walk in the woods, however, and she falls and the pie is crushed. Then she sees a strange house she has never seen before, and when she goes in, she finds all sorts of animals having their own special tea party. When they learn about the accident with the pie, they all help to provide a new one for Kiko. She then takes the new pie to Grandmother’s house. This is a simple, gentle tale for young readers based on the time-honored “little girl lost in the woods” theme. The translation from the Japanese appears to be very good, as it has captured the innocence of Kiko and her animal friends in clear, simple language. The illustrations are predominantly in black-and-white with yellow and red highlights, used mainly to draw attention to Kiko’s yellow hair and red clothing. The animal drawings, however, are particularly nice; they are finely detailed, with animal faces that are both whimsical and interesting. A nice book for bedtime, this story should please young readers and their parents looking for a calm, restful story. Reviewer: Leona Illig; Ages 5 to 8.

Children's Literature - Leona Illig

★ 2015-04-15
When Kikko wakes up to snow, her father goes off to clear the walk around Grandma's house but forgets the pie he was to take with him. Kikko hurries to catch up to him, falling and crushing the pie in the process, but she discovers she has been following not her dad but a bear in a suit and hat! She follows him to a house she's not seen before, where a well-dressed lamb invites her to tea. Around the tea table are seated carefully attired animals, greeting Kikko with interested gazes. They sit her down, invite her to eat and drink, and replace the smashed pie with slices of their own forest-made pies before accompanying her to Grandma's in a grand parade. The illustrations are lovely and mysterious: what looks like charcoal or pencil softly indicates forest and interiors as well as the visages of upright and clothed deer, bear, rabbit, goat, and others. Spare use of color sparks in Kikko's bright gold hair, her red hat, and the multihued pie slices. Minimal line and shadow suggest the forest as a Japanese print might, while the tumbled richness of the tea table evokes rich Dutch still lifes. Kikko's family reads as Asian, perhaps Japanese, and the animals are as serene and otherworldly as Totoro. As beguilingly surreal as the Mad Hatter's party, with its own enigmatic appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews