By Akiko Miyakoshi
Kids Can Press, 2015
Picture book, 32 pages, ages 3-7
Kikko wakes to a winter wonderland and discovers that her father has forgotten to take a pie when visiting her grandmother. Kikko thinks she can catch up to him, so she follows his tracks through the forest. But just as she thinks she sees him, she falls and crushes the pie box. There is no time to cry and she hurries after him, coming to a house she’s never seen before. But when she looks in the window, it wasn’t her father at all, but a great big bear! Then a little lamb appears and invites Kikko to join their tea party. Will the animals welcome Kikko to their tea party? And will she be able to deliver pie to her grandmother?
A quietly fantastical gem of a story.
This is a gentle, imaginative, and sweet book. I love everything about it. What begins as a realistic story suddenly twists to become softly surrealistic. There are no antagonists, no mean or evil characters. Even the great big bear is benign. The only real tension is if Kikko will make it to her grandmother’s house with an uncrushed pie. It’s just a good story, and proof that a book doesn’t necessarily need excitement, antagonists, or tension. And it is delightful.
Will kids like this book? Yes. Of course, it depends on the kid. If they’re the type of reader who prefers action, a big problem to solve, or a clear protagonist & antagonist, then this might not be the book for them. But for kids like me, who prefer compelling stories (even if they’re quiet) and are drawn to books with detailed, traditional illustrations, they’ll love this book. It would appeal to fans of Beatrix Potter, Aaron Becker (Journey, Quest, and Return), and the Fan Brothers (The Night Gardener, Ocean Meets Sky, and Lizzy and the Cloud).
The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi receives 5 stars from this reviewer.