Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party by Laura Sassi (+ a Giveaway!)

Welcome multi-published picture book author and kidlit friend Laura Sassi! I’m so excited to help Laura celebrate the publication of her newest book Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, which was just released in July by Paraclete Press, and is the sweetest rhyming friendship story with the most adorable illustrations by artist Farah Shah!

Laura has visited Frog on a Blog before, which I love, and you can see her interview and other guest post Here and Here. Today, she’s stopped by to share Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party as well as more about her new book. Be sure to read to the end for a chance to win a copy of Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle! Let’s hear from Laura! (All text and images are copyrighted by the author and illustrator.)

Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party

Thank you for having me as your guest, Lauri. There’s something magical about tea parties and picture books. Both are opportunities to connect with others through a shared experience and to enjoy special treats—for the belly and mind! With that sentiment, and in celebration of my new picture book Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle (Paraclete Press, 2025), which revolves around a tea party, here’s a plan for collaborating with your kids to create an experience that celebrates both— a Picture Book Tea Party!

Tip One: Together with your child(ren), select the picture book you would like to feature at your Picture Book Tea Party. Consider choosing a book that touches on a holiday, occasion, or theme that coincides with the month the party will take place or with a special interest your child has (dinosaurs, princesses, etc).

Tip Two: Read your chosen book together, brainstorming as you go, what tea party decor might pair well with the book. This is a great opportunity for an older child to practice list making, or if your children are younger, they can verbally list the ideas while you write them. Ideas might include hanging decor and table decor, including napkins, place cards, and a centerpiece. For the most home-grown feeling tea party, have the kids make as many of these as possible!

Tip Three: Again, inspired by the book, create a tea party menu. A tea party, in my opinion, should include a mix of sweet and savory treats, with fruit included, so that little ones aren’t just consuming sugar and butter. So, with your children, brainstorm what fruit or simple tea sandwich they think the characters in your chosen picture book might enjoy and include that on the menu. For the dessert-y item, consider making sugar cookies decorated to look like a character or object from the book, such as these pumpkin-shaped cookies that I brought to share at my book launch party with Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle. You might also consider cupcakes or muffins, with home-made or printed toppers, like these from my book Love is Kind.

Tip Four: Make and send invitations to your Picture Book Tea Party. Part of the tea party fun is getting a fancy invitation in the mail. So, after making your list of invitees, create an invitation that includes the book cover and the words “You’re Invited to a Picture Book Tea Party featuring Title of Book” along with other pertinent details including the date, time, and location of your party. For extra fun, encourage guests to come in tea party attire or dressed up in a manner that fits the theme of the book. (Note: Someone once told me a good rule of thumb for the number of guests to match the approximate age of the children attending the party.)

Tip Five: Ahead of time, plan at least four activities to do at the tea party. Little ones love moving around and doing things, so, at your Picture Book Tea Party, I recommend planning two crafts and two games/movement activities. For the games/movement activities, I have found that doing book-themed variations of traditional childhood party games like Simon Says, for example, are always a hit. For the crafts, many picture books these days have free activity kits that the publisher has created to go with them. These often contain great crafts. Here, for example, is the activity kit that goes with Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0107/8889/6826/files/Pumpkin_Day_Activity_Guide_-_REV.pdf?v=1741280044 (Note: This activity kit actually includes plans for a Pumpkin Day tea party complete with games, crafts, and treat suggestions!)

Tip Six: Once you have all the above ready, create a party timeline so that when the guests arrive, everything is ready and you and your guests can just have fun! Here’s a sample timeline for a 60-minute party for preschoolers:

Guests arrive.
Do a welcome craft.
Read the story.
Play a book-themed game.
Serve the tea and treats.
Play another book-themed game.
Do a craft.
Read the story again, or have a couple extra that also fit the theme on hand as a calming way to end the party as children are getting picked up.
Say thank you for coming and good bye.

Thanks again, for having me as your guest, Lauri. I hope it results in many fun tea parties!

Laura Sassi is the author of multiple books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, which was a 2015 Christian Book Award Finalist; My Tender Heart Devotions, which was a 2024 Christianity Today Book Award finalist, Faithful Feet, Love Is Kind, Happy Birthday Christmas Child and more. She writes daily from her home in Cranford, New Jersey and finds special joy in sharing messages of kindness, comfort and hope at school visits, church gatherings, and other events.

To learn more about Laura and her lovely books, visit:

http://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/

twitter.com/laurasassitales

https://www.facebook.com/LauraSassiTales

https://www.instagram.com/laurasassitales/

Giveaway

To win a copy of Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, generously provided by Paraclete Press, please leave a comment on this post by September 23rd. I’ll choose a winner at random and connect them with Laura. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

Two New Picture Books For Easter (My View Book Review)

Title: Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story

Author: Ann Ingalls

Illustrator: Steliyana Doneva

Publisher/Year: Paraclete Press/2024

Topic/Theme: Easter, the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christian holiday

Of Note: Meaningful, rhyming text and vivid illustrations

Favorite Line(s): And soon the ground began to shake. The skies grew dark, a huge earthquake! The guardians were terrified! “This was the son of God!” they cried.

Title: Bear Finds Eggs

Author: Karma Wilson

Illustrator: Jane Chapman

Publisher/Year: Margaret K. McElderry Books/2024

Topic/Theme: Friendship, eggs, helping others

Of Note: Sweet, rhyming text, vivid illustrations, and cute animals

Favorite Line(s): Bear leaves a present in the straw and the sticks. “Some sweet, dried berries for the soon-to-be chicks.”

It may be St. Patrick’s Day today, but did you know that Easter is just two weeks away? Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian faith because it celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead. Interestingly, the date of Easter changes each year because it’s based on the lunar calendar. It generally falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox (first day of spring). That’s why Easter can occur anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

Many people, including non-Christians, celebrate Easter around the world. I grew up Catholic, and I have fond memories of attending a special Easter mass at church (usually sporting a new outfit), having a delicious dinner at home, and dying eggs in lots of fun, bright colors. We also enjoyed Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs, jelly beans, and various other candies. Mom hid our baskets somewhere in the house, and we had a lot of fun finding them.

Some people include other things besides candy in their kids’ Easter baskets, such as toys and books. Including books about Easter is a no-brainer, and I’ve got two lovely–and very different–Easter-themed children’s picture books to share with you today.

Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story is a good first introduction to the origins of the Christian celebration of Easter. Detailed illustrations and rhyming text will capture a young reader’s attention as they follow the path of Jesus from the day He enters the city of Jerusalem upon a humble donkey to the night He was betrayed to His heartbreaking crucifixion to His joyous Resurrection from the dead. This Bible-based story is moving and, at times, sad and, perhaps, a little heavy, as it depicts scenes of betrayal and injustice, as well as Jesus’s death upon the cross, but the ending brings joy and hope. When sharing Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story with children, be prepared to reassure them and possibly answer questions. Pairing this book with others about Jesus is recommended so that kids can learn more about His life and who He is.

Image from Journey with Jesus/copyright © 2024 by Ann Ingalls and Steliyana Doneva

Summary from the back cover: Walk with Jesus through the special days of Holy Week. From the joy of Palm Sunday to the love and mystery of the Last Supper, from the sorrow of the Garden of Gethsemane to the triumph of the empty Garden Tomb, young readers are invited to journey with Jesus all the way to Easter and experience His great love for each one of us.

Bear Finds Eggs is the latest book in Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman’s popular The Bear Books series. This super sweet, brightly illustrated (in acrylic paint) story follows all of the familiar and adorable animal friends on a mission to find Mama Meadowlark’s four lost eggs. As they discover each one, they decide to paint them so that they’ll be easier to spot if they ever go missing again. Told in fun-to-read rhyme, Bear Finds Eggs isn’t overtly Easter-themed, but, instead, the holiday is alluded to via the painted eggs, the egg hunt, the way the word Eggs is colorfully depicted on the cover, and the fact that it’s Hare who brings a basket to put the eggs into. This simple friendship story is actually perfect for spring because it’s brimming with cute, baby birds–robins, ducklings, and, of course, meadowlarks–who all hatch from pretty eggs discovered by Bear and his pals.

Image from Bear Finds Eggs/copyright © 2024 by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman

Summary from the jacket flap: In the forest, near the glen, on a wild, wooded trail, Bear and his friends spot eggs! Bear is leaving little presents for the soon-to-hatch chicks when he hears the call. Mama Meadowlark has lost her eggs! How will she find them all?

A hinny is the result of a cross between a female donkey and a male horse, while a mule is the result of a cross between a male donkey and a female horse.

Interview Alert: Laura Sassi

I’m thrilled to welcome multi-published children’s book author Laura Sassi back to Frog on a Blog! Laura first appeared here in 2018 when we were a stop on her blog tour for her beautiful picture book Love is Kind, when she introduced us to Little Owl, her story time puppet. Read about how Laura uses puppets to engage young readers HERE. Laura’s returned today to share a bit about herself and her darling new board book Happy Birthday, Christmas Child!: A Counting Nativity Book, which published on October 4, just in time for Christmas shopping. I had the pleasure of viewing the digital arc, and this book is so, so special. Let’s hear more about it from Laura!

Q. You were a teacher before becoming a children’s author. Do you think your experience as a teacher has helped you in your writing career?

L.S.: Absolutely! There’s nothing quite like teaching elementary school to immerse a future author into the world of writing for children. As a teacher, I pored over each text so I could engagingly teach my kids about the many wonders of storytelling including setting, mood, plot, character development, theme and more. I also decided early on that, just like my students, I would keep a daily writer’s journal. For fun, I often assigned myself the same writing projects I gave them. All this helped to lay a great foundation to the daily discipline and nitty-gritty of writing, revising and polishing my own work.

Q. What do you love most about picture books?

L.S.: The storyteller in me loves the magical way picture books use both words and images to tell a complete story. Neither is complete without the other and the result, when well done, is vibrant and interactive because readers must engage with both for the full reading experience. I also love the size and feel of picture books. They are just perfect for reading with a little one by your side or in your lap, and there’s nothing more magical than that.

Q. Your books often feature feel-good messages of kindness, friendship, hope, and love. How important are those themes to you? And what inspires your writing?

L.S.: When I look over all the stories, poems and articles I’ve written over the last twenty years, I do see common messages of kindness, friendship, hope and love. Other themes that have woven their way in include perseverance, forgiveness, and telling the truth even when it’s difficult. I consider these to be important seeds of good living that were planted in me by my parents. They are themes that I hope to pass on to my own children – as well as the children I write for. I’m delighted to say that I see these seeds blossoming in young children everywhere, and that inspires me to keep writing.

Q. Tell us about your beautiful new book Happy Birthday, Christmas Child!. Why did you decide to make it a counting book? And was it always intended to be a board book?

L.S.: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS CHILD! invites children and their families to join Mary and Joseph as they wait for Jesus to be born. It’s inspired by a favorite Christmas verse from Luke 2:19 that describes Mary’s wonder as she pondered the events surrounding the birth of Christ. Similarly, I hope that by infusing counting into HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS CHILD!, littlest readers and their caregivers will slow down, explore, count and marvel with Mary and Joseph as they await this special birth. And, yes, I envisioned it from the beginning as a board book, perfect for even the tiniest hands to hold.

Q. Gabi Murphy’s illustrations are so bright and cheery and complement your joyful, rhyming text so perfectly. How did you feel when you saw the completed book for the first time?

L.S.: I have been blessed with wonderful illustrators for each of my books and Gabi Murphy just continues that blessing! I love her bright and joyful rendering to the text and love each and every spread. I felt JOY when I saw the completed book for the very first time, JOY and ANTICIPATION, not just for the book’s release, but also for Christmas, which is one of my favorite times of year.

Q. Where can fans connect with you online?

L.S.: I would love for readers to check out my newly renovated website and blog – Laura Sassi Tales – and follow me there for weekly fun in your inbox. I also love connecting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @LauraSassitales! (Same handle for all three.)

Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers? What’s next for Laura Sassi?

L.S.: Well, in the fun planting seeds category, I’m delighted to share that I have two dear-to-my-heart books releasing in 2023. The first, MY TENDER HEART BIBLE, is a rhyming board book that includes 12 of my favorite bible stories that point to God’s love, releasing with Paraclete Press in February. Then in Fall 2023, I’m looking forward to the release of MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK, a collection of 24 short rhyming prayers to take a child through the day and foster conversations with God. And beyond that? Hmm… good things, I hope.

Congratulations, Laura! We can’t wait to see your new books and the many more to follow!

Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. She is the author of multiple books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, which was a 2015 Christian Book Award Finalist; Goodnight, Manger; Diva Delores and the Opera House Mouse, which is a 2021-2022 Iowa Goldfinch Award Nominee; Love Is Kind, which was a 2020 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor Book; Little Ewe: The Story of One Lost Sheep, Bunny Finds Easter, and Happy Birthday, Christmas Child!, her new counting board book. Laura’s Tender Heart Bible and Tender Heart Prayer Book are both forthcoming in 2023 from Paraclete Press.

Laura had a successful teaching career before becoming a children’s author. She’s been a homeschool mom, children’s ministry director, historic museum interpreter, and more. She writes daily from her home in New Jersey and finds special joy in pointing kids to God and to good through story and sharing her love of reading and writing at school visits, church gatherings and other events.