Early Book Review: The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi

The Tea Party in the Woods is a picturebook by Akiko Miyakoshi which is currently scheduled for release on August 1 2015. Kikko sets out after her father with a forgotten pie for Grandma. She follows a trail to a strange house in the wintry woods, thinking it was her father.  A peek in the window reveals that the footprints Kikko had been following did not belong to her father at all, but to a bear in a long coat and hat! The day only gets stranger, and more wonderful for Kikko from there.

The Tea Party in the Woods is a creative and beautifully illustrated picturebook. I loved how the pencil illustrations convery the cold, snowy day and the fantasy found in Kikko's woodland hike. Kikko is bringing a forgotten goody to her grandmother's house, and like Little Red Riding Hood she strays from her path- thankfully the adventure Kikko finds is more like that of Goldilocks than Little Red. Instead of a big bad wolf Kikko finds an animal hosted tea party and help from that unexpected quarter. Her bravery and the kindness of the animals are beautiful on every level.

The Tea Party in the Woods is a delightful and visually attractive storybook. I do not know if I want to share it with my children, because they are already a wee be too willing to explore, but I think most everyone will be able to absolutely love this book. It would be good for one on one or small group storytimes, but I think the illustrations might be too delicate and light to be fully appreciated in a large group.