The teapot has to steep awhile before anyone gets a sip, so the littlest guest waits at a table full of pink polka dot cups and a big bouquet of flowers, with a bumblebee or two drifting past. Then come the questions every proper tea party asks: one sugar lump or two, and how about a splash of cream? My Very First Tea Party turns a toddler's pretend tea into a real little ritual, one rhyme at a time.

Michal Sparks, an artist whose designs appear on dinnerware, gifts and home furnishings, paints each page in soft pinks and lilacs, with roses, red ribbons and bumblebees tucked into the corners. Good habits ride along with the treats: a cup poured for a friend, a short blessing before anyone digs in, and a thank-you note once the last crumb is gone, all set in motion by an invitation of their very own. It is kindness and gratitude in a story small listeners will ask for again and again.

Ten sturdy board pages, 5 and a half inches on each side, are sized for hands ages 0 to 3. Pair it with a toy tea set, bring it to a tea date at Grandma's, or give it to the toddler who already pours pretend tea for a row of stuffed animals.

Growing up? Let's Have a Tea Party, ages 8 to 12