Tea Is Love

A spare narrative and enticing hand-drawn images conjure the enjoyment of sipping tea in this warming collaboration. Via a “Tea is” refrain, Khorram and Cha denote varied facets of the subject: “Tea is a plant// Tea is a journey// Tea is a rainbow// and tea is love.” Subsequent pages reference the beverage’s place in ceremony and connection, “whether for many” (a lively wedding celebration featuring a samovar) “or two” (a couple quietly enjoying a nighttime cup as they soothe an infant). In scenes of harvest, commerce, education, and ritual, people portrayed with various skin tones prepare and drink distinctive variations, including chai and matcha. Echoing the handmade aspects of tea cultivation and preparation, multimedia illustrations painstakingly highlight the drink’s sensory and tactile qualities, from spirals and waves of steam to hands curled around cups, mugs, and bowls. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)