Tea for Ruby (Paula Wiseman Books)

Great for a spring board to a discussion on basic manners for kids. Speaks of welcoming guests, avoiding interruptions and not talking with you mouth full. Very colorful and beautiful, though busy, illustrations.

Ruby received an invitation in the mail, but it's not just any invitation. The postman brings an invitation for Ruby to have tea with...The Queen!

Understandably, Ruby is very excited. She is so excited, in fact, that she tells everyone she knows, actually everyone she sees, "I have been invited to have tea with...The Queen!" Apparently, Ruby's acquaintances already know a great deal about her and admonish her in a number of ways to be polite, mind her manners, and so forth.

The day finally arrives when Ruby is to have tea with the Queen. Ruby awakens and is very excited. There is, however, a very pleasant surprise in store for Ruby. Of course, Ruby is a perfectly wonderful little lady while having tea with the "Queen."

Nicely illustrated and simply written, `Tea For Ruby' is a pleasant little story about something to which a little girl looks forward and how a young lady should behave in a social situation. The repetition is fun for the young reader - or listener, and the moral is straightforward and useful.

I bought this as a gift for my granddaughter who loves Fancy Nancy. I really liked it. She hasn't seen it yet.

This book was for my Grand daughter to help her understand that manners are important

Young Ruby is a bit of a disaster. She doesn't mean to be, it's just that she believes fingers were made before forks. So, it's easy for food not only to wind up in her mouth but also in her hair. She doesn't have much use for napkins, and she talks with her mouth full.

Nonetheless, she is adorable and absolutely over the top when she receives an invitation to have tea with the Queen. Obviously, Ruby's manners need some polishing before sitting down with her majesty. So, everyone who knows her has a bit of advice- "Ruby, I hope you won't interrupt...I hope you'll sit up straight...I hope you won't shout," etc. All of this is a great deal for her to absorb.

Finally, the big day arrives. Young readers will be surprised at what it's like to have tea with the Queen.

Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations are irresistible, filling every page with color. She's a generous illustrator and exuberantly captures all of Ruby's preparations.

Gail Cooke