The Tea Party in The Woods (Akiko Miyakoshi)
The Tea Party in The Woods (Akiko Miyakoshi)
The Tea Party in The Woods (Akiko Miyakoshi)
“Is this the pie for Grandma?” Kikko asked her mother, spotting
the box near the door.
“Oh, dear,” her mother said. “Your father forgot it.”
“I can still catch up to him,” said Kikko.
“All right, but hurry.”
Grandma’s house was on the other side of the woods.
Kikko set out, following her father’s tracks in the fresh snow.
The woods were very still. And so quiet. Kikko’s footsteps were the only sound.
After a while, Kikko spied a figure up
ahead in a long coat and a hat.
“Papa!” she called as she ran to catch up.
She struggled in the deep snow and fell.
The pie box was crushed.
Kikko felt like crying. But her father was almost out
of sight. So she picked up the box and hurried after him.
Kikko followed her father all the way to a strange house.
Has it always been here? Kikko wondered. She couldn’t
remember having seen it before.
She watched as her father went inside.
Curious, Kikko peered through the window.
She watched as he took off his long coat and hat.
But — he wasn’t her father at all!
Kikko had been following a great big bear!
“Are you here for the tea party?” asked a kind voice.
Kikko turned to see a little lamb standing nearby.
“This way,” said the lamb, gently taking Kikko’s hand and leading her inside.
Kikko couldn’t believe her eyes!
And what did the other animals say when they saw her?
“Welcome!” they cheered. A small
rabbit led Kikko to her seat.
“You must be cold,” said a boar.
“Please, come in and warm yourself.”
“We’re about to serve the tea,” said
the rabbit. “You’re just in time.”
Once everyone was seated, a doe stood and began to speak.
“Thank you all for coming on this cold winter day. We have a
special guest with us. What is your name, my dear?”
Kikko’s heart raced. She gathered up all her courage and
said, “My name is Kikko. I was bringing a pie to Grandma.”
The animals all began to speak excitedly.
“That’s so brave of you, going all by yourself!”
“Your grandmother will be so pleased.”
“Please, have something to eat.”
Everyone wanted to talk to the special guest. Kikko began to
feel a bit braver.
Over the noise, one of the rabbits spoke up. “Is this the pie
for your grandmother?”
Kikko looked down at the crushed box. “Yes, but I fell. And
now it’s ruined.”
The animals glanced at one another.
“If it’s pie you need,
we have plenty to share!”
Slice by slice, they
assembled a new pie on a
pretty plate. Each piece had
a different filling of seeds
and nuts and fruit and
other delicious things
gathered from the woods.
The doe carefully placed the plate into a new box
and tied it with a red ribbon.
“How nice!” said Kikko. She was so excited that
she wanted to take the pie to Grandma at once.
“We’ll come, too!” said the animals.
The woods were filled with joyful sounds as everyone paraded to
Grandma’s house, singing and laughing and playing music as they went.
“This way!” the animals called.
Kikko held the pie box tightly and walked on.
At last, they reached Grandma’s house.
“Go on,” the animals encouraged Kikko.
Kikko knocked on the door and called,
“Grandma! I’ve brought you a pie!”
Grandma and Kikko’s father appeared at the
door, surprised. Kikko handed them the box.
“My dear, did you come all this way on your
own?” asked Grandma, stepping inside.
Kikko looked around, but the animals were
nowhere to be seen.
“You’re never alone in the woods,” Kikko
answered, smiling.
She was sure her new friends were listening.
Akiko Miyakoshi is an award-winning author and
illustrator. Her first picture book, The Storm, won
the Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book
Grand Prix. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.
www.kidscanpress.com