Children's Tea & Etiquette: Brewing Good Manners in Young Minds Hardcover – Illustrated, October 27, 2006

My husband and I gave this book to our granddaughter for her birthday. We read the etiquette parts together, and honestly I learned a number of things I didn't know before, like where to leave your napkin when you're leaving the table briefly versus permanently. Then my granddaughter and I tested almost all of the recipes for her birthday party. This was one of the highlights of my year!Recipe review: they were all really good, but all had lots of butter and the dessert-type had lots of sugar. The lemon bars in particular disappeared almost immediately, but were almost too sweet (apparently not quite too sweet, all were eaten). The oatmeal bars with dried fruit were a big favorite of the adults. Personally, I liked the savory cheese tarts (but I'm crazy about anything with cheese).

This is a lovely book. I had seen it in a book store and knew I could get a better price on Amazon. The color illustrations are beautiful and I received it promptly. I enjoyed it as much as my daughter and granddaughter did.

"Children's Tea and Etiquette: Brewing Good Manners in Young Minds" by Dorothea Johnson and John Harney, with illustrations by Dawn Peterson, is a great book for young children, especially those who don't have electronic gadgets yet, and whose minds haven't been poisoned by too much media--loud, hyperactive television in particular. Please note: I don't have children, but some of my friends do, so I'm evaluating this from an outsider's perspective. Yes, I'm generalizing a lot with all those 'manys' and 'mosts', and there are exceptions, and I hope you're one of them.The book is framed around grandparents who have invited their grandchildren to a tea party. They are introduced to Dorothea Johnson, a noted etiquette specialist and instructor, who coaches them on 'good manners', which sounds much less strange and intimidating than "etiquette". The tea party is held at the local botanical garden, with a speaker (John Harney) giving a brief history of tea, from China to the present day. All in all, the book does an excellent job presenting a lot of information simply, and even includes simple recipes children can make with their parents.Dawn Peterson, the illustrator, has done an excellent job making complex ideas simple with her maps of tea-growing areas, tea etiquette (how to cut a scone), and has drawn my mum's de Havilland (sp.?) china in the illustrations (I think it looks like her china).All that said, however, I think the book will miss its intended mark of children between 4 and 6 years of age, since most children in America by age 6 have already been 'poisoned' by too much television and other forms of electronic media--unless you're thought of as the 'control-freak' parent by the other parents in your child's play group.I think this book is ideal for the quiet 3 or 4 year old child who likes to read, hasn't been introduced to hand-held electronic games, hasn't ripped their stuffed animals to shreds, and likes to play 'make believe tea party' with their dolls and friends with the same interests (esp. reading and 'make believe', which there's too little of, nowadays, I think.) But, for the rest of the children out there who are wired into everything, and scheduled into every sport and or 'accomplishment' possible, they won't have the understanding, time, or patience to learn about 'good manners' or the idea of 'taking tea'.Also, let's be honest: unless you're a stay-at-home mom, dad, or grandparent, most children are in pre-school, kindergarten, or school with children from families probably very different than theirs. How many families have Sunday (or Saturday, or Friday) dinner with tea? And when was the last time you hosted an afternoon tea at your home? Unless you've fallen in love, hard, for the history, romance, and nostalgia of tea (European style, I should have mentioned; Japanese tea could be a whole different children's book), and hang out with a like-minded crowd of folks, traditional tea isn't part of modern American life.If I'm wrong, and tea still is a part of modern American life, and you live in Massachusetts, get in touch with me! I'd love to talk tea face-to-face! (My husband's idea of tea is Sherlock 'n' Watson; my tea is Jane Marple and Lord Peter Wimsey, just to give you an idea of my head-space.)P.S. If you want your child to love reading, read to them when they're young! Buy them books (please avoid media tie-ins; they encourage consumerism.) and toys that require imagination to play with.

I bought this book along with a selection of other "tea time" items as a gift for a friend's six year old granddaughter. What a big hit the whole thing has been. The etiquette guide must have worked - she gave me a thank you note and a lovely miniature rose.

Okay, but not the best ever.

Good etiquette book for children. Guide for teaching children table manners.

Perfect for teaching little people.

I purchased this book for my six year old granddaughter but I made certain to read it before sending it on for her birthday.It is quite a charming book for children (and grownups) who love tea parties. The children not only attend a tea party with their grandparents but they are taught all about how they are expected to act and how to eat properly during the tea party.The storyline is quite good and the illustrations are beautiful. I am told my granddaughter liked it very much. I would definitely purchase it for any child but also note that tea parties we have at home do not have to be so formal.