Children's Book Review: Tangerines and Tea, My Grandparents and Me

Tangerines and Tea, My Grandparents and Me
Written by:  Ona Gritz
Illustrated by:  Yumi Heo
Published by:  Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2005

from goodreads.com:
With heartwarming illustrations and fun rhymes, this alphabet book is perfect for grandchildren and grandparents alike.

Visiting grandparents is always an adventure, whether rooting through drawers, playing pretend, or relaxing and reading together in a comfortable chair. Join two boisterous siblings as they leave home to be guests on their grandparents' farm during different seasons of the year. Providing fun rhymes like "the songs we sing while we sit on the swing," and "an oak tree to climb one limb at a time," both adults and children will have fun singing and reading along together, as they learn the alphabet.

Yumi Heo's whimsical illustrations provide the perfect complement to the rhythm of Ona Gritz's jubilant ABC text. Grandchildren of all ages will recognize themselves in this book's appreciative look at the warmth and happiness that grandparents provide. 

* This book is dubbed as an alphabet book, but it's definitely not geared towards young kids learning their letters.  Each page has some text that begin with the "letter" but the letter is not displayed on the page.  My daughter could pick out the words "apples" and "autumn air" on the first page and my son could see the apples in the illustration.  However, I'd say the "alphabetness" (if that's even a word!) is very subtle.  Told in rhyme, this book tells and illustrates the different activites that siblings engage in while visiting with their grandparents on their farm. The kids enjoyed this book and my daughter liked pointing out the rhyming words. 

This book was borrowed from the library.

Family Rating: 1 thumb up.