Teatime Around the World

A wonderful celebration of my favourite drink, ‘Teatime Around the World’ is a charming and informative read. The text opens with a simple rhyme-

Tea for one.

Tea for two.

Tea for me.

Tea for you.

-and this continues as the reader is introduced many different types of tea which are enjoyed around the world. The author’s love of a good cuppa is obvious and she uses her travel experiences as a basis for her writing. The book will appeal to younger children as a simple rhyme with lovely pictures with more information about each type of tea for older readers.

I have had cream teas all over England, taken part in a tea ceremony in Japan and had green tea and quails eggs in a tea house in Shanghai, but there are so many ways of enjoying tea that I’d never heard of in this book! It’s perfect for sharing personal experience of a drink familiar to all, yet served in so many ways and, perhaps, for trying something new.

The illustrations are colourful and engaging and the book makes a great starting point for further investigation of this wonderful- and varied- drink!

Teatime Around the World

Denyse Waissbluth, illustrated by Chelsea O’Byrne

Greystone ISBN: 978-1771646017

Welcome to our World

Welcome to our World

Customs, traditions, culture and languages from all round the world are celebrated in this wonderful book.

The introduction explains that we are all different, but all have things in common. It encourages the reader to make friends with others, to have fun, to share what is different and what is the same. It encourages them to have a go at other languages, using the pronunciation guide in the book, looking them up online or trying to hear them 'spoken by a native speaker' It promotes a sense of excitement and discovery which permeates the whole book.

From greetings to mealtimes, from family to pets, school to clothing, this joyous book explores all areas of life, asking questions of the reader along the way. 'What special hats do people wear in your country?', 'How do you get to school?', 'Do you have any clothes you like to wear for special occasions?'. 

There is so much in this book which could be used in school. The section on playtime games called 'My Turn!' would be great fun to try out and build upon to create a bank of alternative games for playtime. Drinks and recipes from around the world could be made and tried, encouraging everyone who has a favourite to share it with their friends. 

The illustrations are wonderful- full of joy and colour- adding to the appeal of this lovely book.

Welcome to our World   

Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Harriet Lynas

Nosy Crow     ISBN: 978-1788001373