  | Shark at sister tea Author: Joosse, Barbara M. | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Mama and Papa are away for the afternoon, so sisters Sadie and Flora decide to throw a fancy pretend tea party in their garden by the sea. When the girls are joined by a surprise guest, an odd-looking fisherman who wolfs down their cake, they quickly realize something is not quite right. Is that a silver fin on the fisherman's neck, beneath his bib? And are those double rows of sharp, sharp teeth in his mouth? This fishy guest, he must be a shark!!
| Illustrator: | Ruzzier, Sergio |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (03/15/25)
Booklist (05/01/25)
The Hornbook (00/07/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 02/17/2025 When Mama and Papa head out on an afternoon errand, they leave their daughters alone for the very first time on the island where the family lives. Thrilled with their autonomy, bow-wearing cat Sadie and scarved rodent Flora throw themselves a "sister tea." Delicately hued pen, ink, and watercolor vignettes by Ruzzier (Bianca and the Butterfly) capture the giddy feel of independence as well as the party’s impressive trappings-the girls festoon a wisteria-hung branch and feast on a pink cake decorated with roses. Suddenly, a stranger appears, sporting a yellow rain slicker and claiming to be, in the sly words of Joosse (Roawr!) "a weary fish... erman." Readers will instantly recognize a shark-and not a baby one, either. The sisters’ revelation arrives a bit more slowly, but spotting the guest’s double row of teeth plunges them into action. Once they tie him up and toss him back to sea, there’s only question left teasingly unanswered: will they tell their returning parents? It’s a shark-in-sheep’s-clothing story that celebrates childhood courage and resourcefulness as well as siblings’ sacred bond. Ages 3-7. (May) - Copyright 2025
Booklist - 05/01/2025 Joosse’s teatime story delights and entertains but most notably surprises its readers after sisters Sadie and Flora encounter an unexpected guest during a quiet afternoon all to themselves. After Mama and Papa leave for the market, the sisters (along with beloved Blue, Flora’s crowned stuffed-animal friend) set up their tea party adorned with wisteria, colorful ribbons, and, best of all, cake and tea with sugar. The sisters are content until a hungry “fisherman” arrives unbidden. Courteous but wary of their guest’s pointy fin, the sisters share their table until their guest suddenly takes a chomp at Sadie. Small but brave and nimble, Flora throws Blue’s crown into his mouth and sings a siren song to enchant him. Together, they tie up the shark and throw it out to sea in a hilarious conclusion to the story. Ruzzier’s signature ink-and-watercolor illustrations happily leap and skip about Joosse’s wonderfully imaginative narrative, which together evoke themes of courage, humor, and sisterly love. Perfect for developing readers seeking a story that effortlessly blends words with watercolor. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
