Tea with Oliver

by Mika Song, Mika Song (Illustrator)

Overview

An Amazon Best Children's Book of the Month selection

Filled with humor and heart and brought to life with gorgeous watercolor-and-ink illustrations, this book from Geisel-honor-winning author-illustrator Mika Song shows readers how friends can come in all shapes and sizes and be found in the most unexpected places.

Oliver is not like other cats. He likes cookies and tea and just wants a friend to share them with.

Philbert is the shy mouse who lives under Oliver’s couch. He tries to get Oliver’s attention by writing him notes, but Oliver doesn’t notice little Philbert. When a full-on cat party erupts at Oliver’s apartment, brave Philbert decides this is his big chance to finally introduce himself to Oliver.

Dear Oliver, Let’s have tea. Love, Philbert (under the couch)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062429483
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/08/2017
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	726,586
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Mika Song grew up in Manila, Philippines. She is the author-illustrator of Picnic with Oliver and Tea with Oliver as well as the Eisner-nominated graphic novel series Donut Feed the Squirrels. She is also the illustrator of many picture books, including Henry, Like Always, for which she earned a Geisel Honor. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, daughter, and cat. You can visit her online at mikasongdraws.com.

Mika Song grew up in Manila, Philippines. She is the author-illustrator of Picnic with Oliver and Tea with Oliver as well as the Eisner-nominated graphic novel series Donut Feed the Squirrels. She is also the illustrator of many picture books, including Henry, Like Always, for which she earned a Geisel Honor. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband, daughter, and cat. You can visit her online at mikasongdraws.com.

Editorial Reviews

06/12/2017
Oliver is a lonely, mild-mannered cat who would love to have tea with someone other than his stuffed toy. Philbert is a mouse who lives under Oliver’s sofa and would like nothing better than to be invited to tea by Oliver (just the thought of tea inspires Philbert to do a happy dance and hope for cookies, too). But Oliver doesn’t know Philbert exists, and Philbert is too shy to speak up; the mouse’s earnest attempt at communication—a tiny letter that reads, “Let’s have tea. Philbert (under the couch)”—never reaches its intended recipient. It takes a boisterous party foisted on Oliver by his Cousin Lester to bring Philbert into Oliver’s field of vision and forge a friendship of like minds. In an appealing debut as author, illustrator Song (Harry and Clare’s Amazing Staycation) combines dialogue bubbles with succinct, direct narration to draw readers in and sidestep any expected interspecies animosity. Her pencil drawings, rendered in soft blues and peaches, may be naive in style, but they demonstrate a sophisticated sense of character, pacing, and composition. Ages 4–8. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Charming and as sweet as a tea cake.”   — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The illustrations give the book a warm and inviting feel….[and] encourages friendship among those who are different from one another.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

07/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—A cat named Oliver is looking for a companion to have tea with him. A small, shy mouse named Philbert is interested, but Oliver does not hear him. Oliver encounters other friends who do not share his interest in tea. Philbert writes Oliver letters in a repeated attempt to get the cat's attention. The illustrations give the book a warm and inviting feel. The author/illustrator does a great job of portraying the disconnect between the characters. Oliver is much bigger than the tiny mouse, and it's clear that he is not aware of Philbert's presence. Philbert's letters are written in blue crayon, adding to the mouse's childlike quality. Hopeful and kind, the mouse is endearing and will appeal to readers. Statements from characters are written in word bubbles. These help readers distinguish between the characters' conversations and comments from the narrator. The bold black lettering also makes character comments easy to read against the pastel-colored background. VERDICT This title encourages friendship among those who are different from one another. It also invites children to befriend those who may not have extroverted personalities or tendencies.—Deanna Smith, Mamaroneck Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

★ 2017-04-26
Oliver (a white cat with orange spots) wishes for a friend he can share a pot of tea with. He loves tea—as does Philbert, a mouse who lives right in the unknowing Oliver's house, even though Philbert tries to get Oliver's attention all the time. Oliver's solemn moon face, wide-set dot eyes, and pert mouth convey both vulnerability and formality, while Philbert's miniature body and outsized efforts to communicate with his oblivious roomie make readers' hearts ache. So many unnoticed overtures, missed gestures, and misconstrued tries at friendship! Philbert writes letters, launches paper airplanes, and even shouts from under the couch, but he never manages to connect with Oliver. An airy palette lightens things up, with gauzy grays, pinks, and peaches. White space, roomy watercolor illustrations, and clear, confident black linework allow readers to focus on these unlikely friends, their feelings, and the amusing mishaps that keep them apart. Oliver mistakes the ping of a paper plane for a needling flea, and he accidentally sweeps an introductory note back under the sofa while singing the "lonesome apartment bluuues…." The darling rhyming of "tea" and "me" recurs throughout, delivered in turns by both Oliver and Philbert, enacting a conversation between the two before they even meet—as they inevitably, finally do. Charming and as sweet as a tea cake. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews