I am a sucker for quirky and often sarcastic and/or snarky children’s books, and Rachel Poliquin’s How to High Tea with a Hyena (and Not Get Eaten) is no exception. My young co-reviewer felt the same way. The illustrations are humorous, and the characters are delightful. It’s a giggling time learning about the proper (and improper, per some bad advice) ways to have high tea. After all, you don’t want to be eaten.

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

What a fun way to make nonfiction accessible and engaging for kids! This title is the second in the series and is narrated by a hilarious cockroach. The amount of factual information included is astounding considering the fact that readers will hardly notice this is a nonfiction chapter book!

My children and I LOVED this book! Celeste the cockroach tries to be helpful by explaining to the girl how to behave at high tea. The illustrations were beautiful and kept us engaged throughout the story. My 4 year old thought Ruby the hyena was hilarious, and my 8 year old appreciated the facts incorporated throughout. This book is sure to get your little ones reading!

In this book, Celeste the cockroach teaches how to survive having high tea with a hyena. She explains how to politely eat snacks and drink tea while having time to gossip. However, hyenas can’t learn these skills very well. Celeste has some strategies on how to interact with these polite predators.

This was an adorable and funny story. I learned a lot about hyenas that I didn’t know before. I’d never heard of an aardwolf (a type of hyena) or that hyenas can’t climb so other predators hide their food in trees, away from hyenas.

This story was funny in the way the hyena couldn’t behave politely during the high tea, but it was also a good teaching tool. The hyena shows how we shouldn’t behave in polite situations, so that will teach children what’s right and wrong during events like having high tea. It’s ironic that a cockroach, an insect associated with being dirty, was the one teaching about polite behaviour.

How to High Tea with a Hyena is a fun children’s book!

Thank you Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book.

Dear Readers, do not try this at home...
Silly yet factual..
"How to High Tea with Hyena (and not be eaten)" is a humorous book showing us how to invite a Hyena over for a high tea but not to be eaten by it! Hmm... 🤔 Besides, to add more humor, it is narrated by a snarky cockeroach. Hah!  While it gives us silly tips to set us a tea party, it also teaches some facts about hyenas as well. 
Personally, I have mixed feelings if I want to add this to my library. However, this can target audience who enjoys both silliness and learn some facts.

Have you ever had high tea? I did once. It’s a very elegant affair. Celeste the cockroach gives a girl advice on how to get the high tea party is done — from food to the tablecloth to what to wear. Ruby is the queen of the hyenas. Ruby doesn’t haven’t manners. Meanwhile the cockroach tells the girl how to survive and not get eaten by Ruby.

Excellent writing and beautifully illustrated. Learning about how to do a high tea party from a cockroach is funny, but the way Ruby eats is hilarious. Many facts are included in this book. I especially like learning about hyenas. I never knew much about the species. While it is a book geared for children, I think the adults reading it would enjoy it too. It’s a great way to encourage reading.

Interesting concept for a book about hyenas. I enjoyed it and I think it will give children some laughs while also providing factual information about hyenas. The illustrations are bright and fun. I especially loved the blueprint-style on a few pages which provided a nice switch from the style shown in the rest of the book. I would love to see more nonfiction books written in this style. Great for picky readers or for children who are easily bored by standard informational books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy!

This book was adorable! It's a combination of non-fiction (real facts about hyenas) and fiction (a cockroach explaining how to have high tea with a hyena while a girl tries not to get eaten) and it does both really well. I learned a lot about hyenas that I didn't know before and I had a good time doing it. I think this is a great book for both children and the parents reading it to them. Really fun, really funny, and really well-illustrated. There's literally nothing bad I can say about this book!

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing my daughter said after finishing this book was" what other books has this author written, and can I read it?" Needless to say, she and I both became a big fan of Rachel Poliquin after reading this book.

The story was so informative, yet hilarious, the art is great, this is the kind of children's book needed to get kids to love reading. Five Stars all around.

This is a fun non-fiction book because it has both facts about hyenas and a silly narrative with interesting illustrations. The picture book is quite long and would be geared toward upper elementary students, 3rd grade and up. Celeste Cockroach likes a dangerous plan and this one sure is as Sally [your name of choice] is inviting Ruby the Hyena to High Tea. There's all sorts of lists about high tea, hyenas, which makes the book busy with illustrations, storyline, facts, and jokes.

This story is just adorable!! I really enjoyed it. My grandchildren also really enjoyed it! I highly recommend this book

There are always some great animal facts packed into the Polite Predator books. I enjoyed learning more about the different types of Hyenas, I definitely thought that the Spotted Hyena was just a scavenger before I read this book, so I learned something new. The cockroach always manages to make me giggle. Looking forward to the next installation in the Polite Predator series.

I absolutely loved this book! It is cute, funny, and informative. The illustrations are spot on, and this is a book my kids will want to read over and over!

I will post my review on Instagram closer to publication day.

My kids LOVED IT! This savvy cockroach maybe charming and cute, but BEWARE his advice is terrible. You’ll be giggling to the very end, if you don’t get eaten first. The fun & creative illustrations are a perfect complement to a silly and informative story - making learning ridiculously fun.

3.5/5: How to Have High Tea with a Hyena is a humorous and informative book about etiquette and hyena facts told from the narrator who is a spunky cockroach. The illustrations are great!

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

What do you do if a hyena invites you to join them and their family for high tea? Will you be on the menu?

Part of the Polite Predators series, this is a funny, informative picture book all about hyenas - and the etiquette of mealtimes with them. The book is presented by Cassie the Cockroach (a survivor) , who will guide the reader through the minefield of what to wear and how not to get eaten.

Gorgeously illustrated, witty, and incredibly informative all in one, this is a great little book for young readers learning about hyenas. I'll keep an eye out for more in the series for my kiddos.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book n exchange for an honest review~

I love this book! It is just such an approachable way to introduce factual information! I read this with my son, and he thoroughly enjoyed all of the information and the amusing way that it was presented. So many dangers are present when you have high tea with a hyena, but in order to understand the best way to do it safely, this book outlines the gamut of variables should you attempt the task. The illustrations are colorful and amusing, and the tone the book uses is extremely child-friendly. I'd happily add these to my classroom!

Everything you need to know about hyenas and more! If you or your children enjoy learning about wild animals this book will be perfect! I enjoyed learning all about hyenas and the illustrations that went along with the story.

Similar to Poliquin's other book, How to Promenade with a Python, this book is so funny and informative! I was very much looking forward to reading this "sequel" of sorts. I truly have learned so much about hyena's in a comical way. Celeste the Cockroach is still a wonderful narrator of various situation and consequences in terms with dealing with hyenas. In a review for Python, I forgot to include the wonderful colorful illustrations from Kathryn Durst that partner with Poliquin's words so well. The back and forth of banter and facts is so much fun and this is a great addition to a school library or as a gift.

This was such a fun book. An excellent way to engage with kids and teach them about animals. I'm an adult and feel like I learn a bunch from this book.