Cynthia Rylant is, in my opinion, the Queen of Beginning Readers Series books. She is the author of the Henry & Mudge series, the related Annie and Snowball series, Mr. Putter & Tabby series, Brownie & Pearl series, Poppleton series, and, my favorite, the High Rise Private Eyes series. I was excited to hear that Rylant was releasing a new beginning reader series. I requested a review copy of Rabbit Tea through Netgalley. This is the third book in the Mouse and Spoon series. (OK, yes, I did order #1 and #2 after reading Rabbit Tea, but only for the sake of the children at my library. Really.) The Mouse and Spoon series features a trio of sibling mice, Tom, Ginger, and Piper, who run a bakery. In Rabbit Tea, they are asked to make shortbread and carrot cake for a rabbit mother's tea, plus enough treats for 216 rabbit children! What will the mouse bakers make? And will it be ready in time?

Rylant brings us another funny, gentle story for children who are newly independent readers. The story is divided into short chapters and fits into Ready to Read books level #2. Most of Rylant's beginning reader series have a certain look that matches their cozy style. They tend to have white backgrounds and adorable characters. Illustrator Janna Mattia has matched this design while retaining her own unique style. Pastel colors and adorable mice in the sweetest bakery shop grace the book's pages. I am definitely a fan of this new series and thinking of ways I could hold a Rabbit Tea storytime, complete with carrot cake, shortbread, and cinnamon sticks.

What a sweet story and series from Cynthia Rylant. In this one the mice have to bake for a 6 rabbit mothers and their 216 children. Of course they have a great idea for the moms, so they get right to baking. The idea for the children is a bit harder, but Cinnamon Sugar Sticks it is. All goes well and the tea party was a big hit!

I love Cynthia Rylant series and this is no exception. I love the pattern to it. The length of the story is just right. The illustrations are so sweet and the mice are adorable! My first graders loved the first 2 books in this series! I can’t wait to share this one with them too!

Rabbit Tea is an absolutely stunning, cozy little read, that will have young tea party goers lost in the pages. The characters in this story are sweet, and the illustrations and text are unbelievably charming. With plenty of fun animals to meet throughout and an intro to baking, I can’t wait to read this aloud at a tea party for little at my public library. This is a future storytime classic that I’ll be sure to be sharing for years to come.

The story has a playful but peaceful and gentle cadence perfect for bedtime or playtime alike.

A cute and fun kid's book about some tiny mice baking for a group of rabbits and their children.

The illustrations were beautiful and the story was fast moving. A book that will be enjoyed by early readers!