Chimpanzees for Tea!

January 15, 2016
Vincent's faulty memory makes for one wild tea time! Mum asks Vincent, who is working on a soapbox derby car, to run down to the shops to buy something for tea. She gives him a list: "a Bunch of Carrots, a Box of Rice, some Tasty Cheese, a Big Firm Pear, a Can of Peas / and hurry home in time for tea!" He jumps in his racer and heads into town, but after repeating the list only once, he loses it in the wind when waving to Mr. Singh. He tries to repeat the list again, but his memory gets muddled. Each time he waves to a passer-by, another item on the list becomes confused, and he picks up something that rhymes instead. "Can of Peas" becomes a trapeze; the "Big Firm Pear," a big furry bear. He picks up the right number of things, but none, alas, is correct. He does, however, invite them all to tea. Award-winning British author/illustrator Empson energetically illustrates her tale of ever more outrageous memory lapses with scribbly watercolors full of swooping action and bouncing wildlife that follow the swirling text across the pages. Wild daubs of color emphasize the comically powerful wind and the mounting chaos. With the exception of Mr. Singh, all the characters are white. As much fun to read as it is to hear, and a real treat for the eyes. (Picture book. 3-6)

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April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-A boy's mum sends him off to the shops to get some supplies for tea, but what happens when his grocery list gets swept away by the wind? Vincent finds out in this energetic picture book. He tries to remember what the list said ("a Bunch of Carrots, a Box of Rice, some China Tea, a Big, Firm Pear, a Tin of Peas"), but with multiple distractions along the way, the Tin of Peas quickly becomes a Trapeze, followed by a Big Furry Bear, some Chimpanzees, a Box of Mice, etc. The bright watercolor illustrations convey the perfect amount of texture and movement and will excite kids to keep turning the pages. VERDICT The humorous text makes this a perfect read-aloud for all ages and a great memory game to play with school-age kids. A first purchase for most libraries.-Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI

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