Chimpanzees for Tea!

Written & illustrated by Jo Empson

Vincent's grocery list turns into a hilarious mix-up with unexpected surprises.

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·3.7/5 Goodreads · 473 ratings

32 pages· 291 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Vincent's simple grocery errand spirals into chaos as distractions transform his list into a wild adventure. A tin of peas becomes a trapeze, and a firm pear turns into a furry bear. Will Vincent's mother be ready for the unexpected surprises he brings home? This playful tale, filled with rhythm and humor, promises laughter and delight for young readers.

From the publisher

A silly, fun version of the game “telephone”—in which a grocery list committed to memory goes playfully awry.

One day, Vincent’s mother asks him to go to the store to pick up a few items: “a bunch of carrots, a box of rice, some China tea, a big, firm pear, and a tin of peas” to be precise. “And hurry home in time for tea!” she says. Sounds easy enough.

Yet distractions are at every turn, causing havoc with Vincent’s memory. All of a sudden, a tin of peas is replaced by a trapeze; a big, firm pear becomes a big furry bear; and a box of rice transforms into a box of mice!

Needless to say, Vincent’s mother is in for quite a surprise.

Told with a playful rhythm for reading aloud and illustrated with exuberance and great child appeal, this humorous picture book will have kids laughing and asking for repeated readings.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Words: 291
Reading age: 3–7
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD440L

Themes & topics

Books about word play Books about listening Books about animals Books about imagination and play Books about memory

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.3

out of 7

5.8

“There are so many great things about this book! With pages alternating between town and country settings, it is a repeating list run playfully amok. The Madcap illustrations are boldly colorful and fun, with crazy things to spot on each page. The young boy, sent to the store with a list of items to get for his mother gradually makes silly substitutions. As the substitutions become increasingly wacky, it can be fun to predict what may come next.”

Grammy

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one