Two for Tea: Tea Time for Sophia Grace and Rosie by Orli Zuravicky

SOPHIA GRACE AND ROSIE JUST LOVED HAVING TEA PARTIES. IN FACT, THE TWO COUSINS HAD ALREADY THROWN SEVERAL OF THEM.

BY NOW THE GIRLS WERE EXPERTS IN EVERY KIND OF TEA PARTY IMAGINABLE.

Well, not exactly. The cousins can't wait to do it again--to tea-par-tay hearty in their best shindig ever.

Will there be invitations? YES! With plenty of pink stickers!

Will it be a fancy dress affair, with tutus and tiaras? Well, of course, dahling!

Will there be a fairy theme with lots of PINK fairy dust? Will there be chocolates and pastries? You know it!

Not much suspense here.

In fact, the only unknown factor in this scenario is whom the cousins will invite to the tea party. They come to an agreement that each will invite one special guest, and the suspense builds to see which special persons will show up on the afternoon of the big soiree'.

Light and slight, Orli Zuravicky's Tea Time with Sophia Grace and Rosie (Orchard Books, 2013) serves up a frothy confection of a story based on the cousins who have appeared on the Ellen show, charming that audience with their oh-so British accents and teatime talk. While the pink-tinged solipsism of Zuravicky's story-time party girls (who, of course, invite only each other to their fete) seems to stress exclusion over inclusiveness, little girls who go for spangled tutus, sparkly tiaras, and of course, rainbow-sprinkled sweets will likely want to be virtual guests at this party.

For a more realistic look at the deeper point of the tea party trend, pair this one with Jane O'Connor's little treatise on friendship, Fancy Nancy: Tea for Two for more substantial tea party fare (see my recent review here).