Abby is anxious to host the perfect tea party for a friend she idolizes, but life serves up a sweet taste of the fun to be had when perfection is off the table.
Have you met Phoebe—Miss Phoebe Dupree? Phoebe’s as perfect as perfect can be.
To Abby, her friend Phoebe can do no wrong. Phoebe is speedy. Phoebe is smart. She’s equally brilliant at science and art. So when the budding hostess invites Phoebe over for a tea party, everything from the sugary treats on the menu to Abby’s dog, Louie, must be, well . . . perfect. But when life—and possibly Louie—send a clear message to let loose, the girls indulge in a perfectly imperfect playdate. Linda Ashman’s vivacious rhyme and Alea Marley’s inviting illustrations serve up a classic tale of enduring friendship at a tea party that will leave readers wanting to pull up a chair.
About the Author
Linda Ashman is the author of more than forty picture books, including William’s Winter Nap, illustrated by Chuck Groenink, and Rain!, illustrated by Christian Robinson. About Phoebe Dupree Is Coming to Tea, she says: “I have a chronic case of hosting anxiety, so it wasn’t hard to imagine a tea party where everything goes disastrously wrong.” Linda Ashman lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband and two dogs, who are perfect at sleeping, eating, and shedding (the dogs, that is).
Alea Marley is an award-winning illustrator of many books for children. She loves creating whimsical scenes that are filled with patterns, texture, and bursts of color. Alea Marley lives in North England.
Praise For…
An enthusiastic host awaits an invited guest for tea and hopes that everything will be as perfect as the guest herself is. . . . The text is a well-balanced representation of Abby’s voice in rhyming quartets that glide effortlessly for a smooth read-aloud. The page turns are expertly designed to maximize suspense and drama. Marley’s innocent illustrations combine pink and pearls with wet dogs and cargo pants for a delightful celebration of a broad range of girlhood expressions and experiences. . . . Funny, subtly empowering, and sweet. —Kirkus Reviews
Alea Marley’s colorful, digital illustrations look like paper dolls, and the poetic, lilting style makes the book easy to read. It brings high tea down to a little girl’s world and teaches that you don’t have to be perfect to make friends. —WORLD Magazine
