Review sponsored* by EW Publishing
The Children’s Book Review | May 15, 2017
Written by Loretta Neff
Illustrated by Anirban Mitra
Paperback: 34 pages
Age Range: 6-12
Publisher: EW Publishing (June 1, 2017)
ISBN: 978-0998555904
What to expect: Social Graces, Manners, Etiquette, Character Traits
Loretta Neff is back with a new addition to her KAMP (Kids’ Arts & Manners Program) series, which aims to empower children and young adults with social tools that will help them succeed in school and beyond.
In Sip Tea with Mad Hatter at KAMP™, readers are invited down the rabbit hole to an afternoon tea and unbirthday party with Alice—yes, Alice from Wonderland—to meet the Mad Hatter and his other well-known and zany friends. The intention behind this invitation is to “teach, inspire, and motivate children to perform spontaneous acts of kindness.”
Before heading to the unbirthday, readers are given a set of Wonder-rules to follow—the rules are provided to ensure personal safety and fun and to add enjoyment for guests. The rules are presented in bullet point form and include ideas such as:
- Stand tall—even if you’re small!—and introduce yourself with confidence and courage.
- For birthday parties and celebrations, display “cool” behavior and show the spirit of giving and receiving gifts with enthusiasm and humility.
Everything from reading the invitation carefully, meeting new people, table manners, and, my personal favorite (in regard to food): “If you touch it, you must take it!”
And it’s not just for guests; hosts are provided with tips, too:
- Play games that can include every guest.
- Walk guests to the door when the party’s over and thank them for coming.
At the end of the book, readers will be ready to take on the Queen and will be remembered as a dream guest, not as a guest who spoiled the dream. A little bit of history about having tea is shared and then followed by a glossary to cover words like canapés and winsome. Also included is a certificate of achievement so readers can pledge to exhibit gracious manners, and a list of “Magical Phrases and Words” rounds out the book as a simple reminder of please and thank you.
Author Loretta Neff, once again, provides kids with an enjoyable approach to manners and etiquette. She has a definite knack for putting social graces into perspective and the presentation, including the artful illustrations, allows for each point to be easily digested. Overall, this is an empowering and educational resource that will benefit children and young adults for their entire life. It provides tips for excellent social tools that will help in enjoying social occasions, as well as guiding readers to be successful in all of their endeavors. Once again, thank you, Loretta Neff, for another well-written and entertaining resource that teaches important life skills.
In the words of Lewis Carroll: “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” You’ll be glad that you did!
Available Here for Pre-order:
About Loretta Neff
Loretta Neff is an award-winning children s book author and the founder of the EW Foundation®, a nonprofit provider of character education programs. Loretta has specialized in character and etiquette education since 1994 with clients ranging from children to Fortune 500 companies.
Loretta s books are inspired by her love of humanity and desire to share her resources with children who need them most. Through her books and charitable efforts, she hopes to engage young minds and instill the values that can shape and transform their lives in a meaningful and measurable way.
Her first book, award-winning Tame Your Manners, released March 2014, received coveted reviews and has become a bestseller in its genre. Described as Madagascar meets manners, the book continues to charm the hearts of critics and readers alike.
Her second book, Sip Tea with Mad Hatter, is another delightful concept for introducing children to good character and tea manners. The book was inspired by Alice in Wonderland and will challenge kids to be creative and Think outside the rabbit hole.
Based on EW Foundation s KAMP® curriculum, a 2015 and 2016 Promising Practices national award winner, her books emphasize good character and core values while offering an affordable and comprehensive learning solution. Children can enjoy the series at their own pace or share it as a family or class. (For ages 5 12.) Loretta received a BA degree in 1989 with honors and had her sights on the legal profession. But after being accepted to law school at Michigan State University, she never attended, having found her real passion for philanthropic work and the teaching of business and social etiquette. Loretta remains committed to the advancement of numerous charities, societies, and educational foundations.
For more information, visit: www.tameyourmanners.com
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The publisher of ‘Sip Tea with Mad Hatter at KAMP.™,’ EW Publishing, sponsored* this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …