Arianna and the Strawberry Tea

This has become one of my favorite children's books! I fell in love with the story and the drawings the very first time I read it and I've bought several copies for all the little girls I know. Arianna's thoughtful delight in being a little girl and exploring grown up places makes her worthy of occupying the same shelves as Madeline and Eloise. If you're looking for a children's book that hasn't been overmarketed yet and will warm the hearts of people of any age, I highly recommend ARIANNA AND THE STRAWBERRY TEA.

This is a delightful tale in which Arianna's unwitting, uninhibited and confident behavior shows children that they, too, can make a difference in the adult world. It has an immediate appeal to all children. What child has not wished to eat with grown-ups in a fancy restaurant or even at an adults-only dinner party, let alone in the Grand Hotel? The book offers both a fanciful and a realistic view of an exclusive, traditional hotel both through the descriptions and the engaging illustrations. Monsieur Le Bear, the supporting character, both by his demeanor and his silence, adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of the story as children love to see him mimic Arianna's behavior. The book's well balanced and at time rhythmic narrative holds children's attention through to the satisfying ending. The unique and simple recipes at the end of the book are an added bonus, and I can imagine that lots of children have already sat down to strawberry tea and chocolate tarts after reading this tale. The story, illustrations and recipes make for a brilliantly enjoyable combination. On a practical level, parents will appreciate that the story can help children build confidence in themselves and offers opportunties for vocabulary development and discussion. My family hopes for a sequel!

The drawings in this book are the best I have seen in a long time. They are all done by hand by a very talented artist and nothing was done using a computer!

The story is delightful because it is about a little girl who had an impact upon older people and "tradition".She made her statement just by being herself. The illustrations are fabulous! My daughter read this book and loved it immediately. It is a treat to receive the recipes for strawberry tea and chocolate tarts.