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lobeliaparides's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
miss_collins's review
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
thukpa's review against another edition
4.0
Cute story, like the Tibetan culture embedded, though clearly the story takes place in N. India and is an aside to the substance of the story. Very sweet.
aimeesbookishlife's review against another edition
4.0
This is a simply beautiful story about Tashi, a girl from a poor Indian family whose mother, a tea picker, is taken ill and is unable to work. Tashi tries to take her mother's place picking tea but she is too small and the overseer laughs at her. She goes off to cry with her friends the monkeys, with whom she often shares the fruit her mum gives her for lunch. The monkeys feel sorry for her and while she is asleep, they bring her a basket full of best tea in the world - cloud tea - to impress the royal tea taster.
The story is set at an unspecified time during the heyday of the British Empire - the tea taster mentions that he is looking for tea to bring back to the Empress - but it has a magical, other-worldly feel and reads like a rags-to-riches fairy story, perfect for children who are tired of Cinderella and want something a little bit different.
The story is set at an unspecified time during the heyday of the British Empire - the tea taster mentions that he is looking for tea to bring back to the Empress - but it has a magical, other-worldly feel and reads like a rags-to-riches fairy story, perfect for children who are tired of Cinderella and want something a little bit different.
pwbalto's review against another edition
4.0
Stunningly atmospheric, this simple, dramatic tale reads a bit like Jorge Luis Borges for kids. Tashi's mother is a tea picker in the foothills of the Himalayas. Their day is described in beautifully descriptive sensory terms, from the sweet scent of their morning tea to the "blurred red globe" of the sun on their walk home from work.
Every day, Tashi shares her lunch with the monkeys who frequent the tea fields. When her mother becomes too sick to work, despondent Tashi takes refuge with the monkeys and falls asleep. She awakes to find that her kindness has been repaid - the monkeys have filled her basket with the rarest wild tea, the tea that the Royal Tea Taster will pay for in gold, enabling Tashi and her mother to live out their days in peace and prosperity.
In an Author's Note, Mal and Elspeth say that they came up with this story after having read many tales involving tea from the Himalayas. They do not say that they've traveled to the region, but I've been to tea plantations in India, and I find it hard to believe that they could so beautifully describe the light, the mist, the way the day progresses without having been there.
The ink and gouache illustrations are likewise marvelous. Juan Wijngaard has a lovely light touch, and great dexterity in capturing the muted colors of early morning, strong midday colors, and dappled shade alike. His fine-line ink drawings are breathtaking.
Every day, Tashi shares her lunch with the monkeys who frequent the tea fields. When her mother becomes too sick to work, despondent Tashi takes refuge with the monkeys and falls asleep. She awakes to find that her kindness has been repaid - the monkeys have filled her basket with the rarest wild tea, the tea that the Royal Tea Taster will pay for in gold, enabling Tashi and her mother to live out their days in peace and prosperity.
In an Author's Note, Mal and Elspeth say that they came up with this story after having read many tales involving tea from the Himalayas. They do not say that they've traveled to the region, but I've been to tea plantations in India, and I find it hard to believe that they could so beautifully describe the light, the mist, the way the day progresses without having been there.
The ink and gouache illustrations are likewise marvelous. Juan Wijngaard has a lovely light touch, and great dexterity in capturing the muted colors of early morning, strong midday colors, and dappled shade alike. His fine-line ink drawings are breathtaking.
nicolewilson's review against another edition
4.0
This is an adorable book with a great story and beautiful artwork. I'd definitely recommend it for any tea loving family.
melpen's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely story about tea and monkeys and familial love. The illustrations are quite stunning.
rjvrtiska's review
4.0
I checked this book out because of the illustrations, and they didn’t disappoint. A sweet fairy tale, woven from legends and fables from the Himalayas. It would’ve been nice to weave in a few more place-specific details.
pwbalto's review
4.0
Stunningly atmospheric, this simple, dramatic tale reads a bit like Jorge Luis Borges for kids. Tashi's mother is a tea picker in the foothills of the Himalayas. Their day is described in beautifully descriptive sensory terms, from the sweet scent of their morning tea to the "blurred red globe" of the sun on their walk home from work.
Every day, Tashi shares her lunch with the monkeys who frequent the tea fields. When her mother becomes too sick to work, despondent Tashi takes refuge with the monkeys and falls asleep. She awakes to find that her kindness has been repaid - the monkeys have filled her basket with the rarest wild tea, the tea that the Royal Tea Taster will pay for in gold, enabling Tashi and her mother to live out their days in peace and prosperity.
In an Author's Note, Mal and Elspeth say that they came up with this story after having read many tales involving tea from the Himalayas. They do not say that they've traveled to the region, but I've been to tea plantations in India, and I find it hard to believe that they could so beautifully describe the light, the mist, the way the day progresses without having been there.
The ink and gouache illustrations are likewise marvelous. Juan Wijngaard has a lovely light touch, and great dexterity in capturing the muted colors of early morning, strong midday colors, and dappled shade alike. His fine-line ink drawings are breathtaking.
Every day, Tashi shares her lunch with the monkeys who frequent the tea fields. When her mother becomes too sick to work, despondent Tashi takes refuge with the monkeys and falls asleep. She awakes to find that her kindness has been repaid - the monkeys have filled her basket with the rarest wild tea, the tea that the Royal Tea Taster will pay for in gold, enabling Tashi and her mother to live out their days in peace and prosperity.
In an Author's Note, Mal and Elspeth say that they came up with this story after having read many tales involving tea from the Himalayas. They do not say that they've traveled to the region, but I've been to tea plantations in India, and I find it hard to believe that they could so beautifully describe the light, the mist, the way the day progresses without having been there.
The ink and gouache illustrations are likewise marvelous. Juan Wijngaard has a lovely light touch, and great dexterity in capturing the muted colors of early morning, strong midday colors, and dappled shade alike. His fine-line ink drawings are breathtaking.
teenytinylibrary's review
3.0
I love Mal Peet. This caught my eye - tea, monkeys, the GORGEOUS illustration on the cover. This would be a good story to adapt for storytelling - there's great possibility with the monkeys, the women who won't look, the Royal Tea Taster and his tea tasting faces.