Tea parties can be fun for both children and grown-ups, presenting the opportunity to make new friends and to strengthen the relationship with old ones. Would you go to a tea party hosted by Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland? Do you know what it takes to be a stellar guest like Alice Kingsleigh? Award-winning author Loretta Neff tells you everything you need to know about tea parties in her new picture book Sip Tea with Mad Hatter: at KAMP®. Unlike those boring and lengthy etiquette handbooks, Sip Tea with Mad Hatter teaches tea party manners and beyond in the most creative and fun setting possible, i.e., in the enchanting world of Wonderland.
Each chapter of the book features a character from Alice in Wonderland, who specifies and explains certain rules to follow during a tea party, or a get-together of any sort. The contents of the rules are closely tied to the personality traits of that character. For example, Alice shows us the importance of introducing yourself with confidence when meeting new friends, no matter how small you may appear in front of them. The Red Queen of Hearts, on the other hand, demonstrates the need for kindness and patience, the lack of which leads to her tragic fate of being expelled from Wonderland forever. The conversational writing style and the funny illustrations featuring bright, rich colors, combine to bring the entire book to life. You can easily imagine yourself seeking advice on party rules before heading to Mad Hatter's magical party, with a shining invitation in hand.
I can't agree with the author more that lessons about manners should be taken from early on. While formal education primarily focuses on academic skills, the responsibility to educate children about essential social skills lies in the hands of parents and caregivers. And the impact is likely to last a lifetime. Instead of trying hard to talk your children into behaving well, you may get the message through more effectively by reading a fun book together. Sip Tea with Mad Hatter would be a great place to start. It would also be easier to remind your child of certain rules by simply mentioning the related character from the book.
While tea parties are special occasions, I love that the lessons taught in this book can apply more broadly to everyday situations. We all want to raise our children to be kind, gracious, considerate, compassionate, and respectful persons that others would enjoy the company of. Add Sip Tea with Mad Hatter to your child's summer reading list and see how much both you and your young reader will benefit from it!
Posts
