How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 19, 2017

Review

Recommend for cream consideration. When a self-centered queen's daily tea routine becomes boring and tasteless, she embarks on an adventure to find the perfect cup. James, her servant, and her corgi companions travel in a hot air balloon and land in Japan, India and Turkey. At each stop a child welcomes her and invites her to an activity in progress which she tries. They then invite her to help them make tea which they share together. The repetition of the various stages provides the audience with the differences of each culture and foreshadows what will make the perfect cup of tea. Now the queen knows that tea taste better when you make it yourself and share it with friends. There is a perfect balance of text with illustration throughout the book. Illustrations are whimsical, comical, and filled with detail. The prim and stiffness of a spoiled queen evolves into a more relaxed, hair out of place, friendly one completely through the illustrations alone. Swiatkowska provides illustrated instructions on how three different cultures brew and serve tea. The various characters exude spunk and personality that are implied through the text. It is the perfect recipe for a satisfying book.

Overall Book Score: excellent