Tea Time

Oh, homophones! In this picture book, they're the source of much comic trouble between a bubbly little hippo named Frannie and her loving grandfather Grandy. The two have an excursion planned, but as Ferry (The Nice Dream Truck) and Wulfekotte (The Remember Balloons) show through the characters' respective preparations, they have two different ideas about the outcome. Grandy, a golfer, is eager to share tee time with his granddaughter; Frannie, meanwhile, is packing a picnic basket with all the fixings for a tea party. The misunderstanding deepens after they set out. Grandy speaks of "birdies" and "swings" (a golf glossary ends the book), while Frannie seems to think the golf course--wonderfully imagined in digitally colored drawings--is an especially beautiful park, despite the many species of animal golfers around her. Clarity is finally imposed when an incoming golf ball wrecks Frannie's carefully laid out tea spread ("Sandwiches were smashed. Cake was crushed"). But Grandy consoles her with a fancy tea at the clubhouse, followed by a game of golf that meets Frannie where she is, culminating in a sweet celebration of intergenerational bonding. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. Illustrator's agent: Sean McCarthy, Sean McCarthy Literary. (June)