I Asked a Tiger to Tea: And Other Poems - Tapa dura

If tigers, camels, or lions respectfully decline your invitation to tea, don't despair--poet Ivy O. Eastwick has many more friends who would happily accept. For more than thirty years, Ivy O. Eastwick wrote verse filled with gentle humor and inspiring imagery. From this body of work, educator Walter B. Barbe, the poet's longtime friend, has selected twenty of her poems that open the gates to her imagination. As you travel along, you can play with the West Wind, whistle with a blackbird, or discover the treasures of a beachcomber's sack. Artist Melanie Hall captures the spirit and playfulness of these enchanting poems in this poetry book sure to please readers of all ages.

Ivy O. Eastwick was born outside of London, England, and for many years served in the British Diplomatic Service. Among her published books are Fairies and Suchlike, I Rode the Black Horse Faraway, In and Out the Windows, and Providence Street. Dr. Walter B. Barbe became familiar with the poetry of Ivy O. Eastwick after he joined the editorial staff of Highlights for Children magazine in 1963. Several years later, he was named editor in chief of the magazine, a position he held for ten years. Dr. Barbe lives in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania. Melanie Hall teaches children's book illustration at Pratt Institute and Marywood University. Her illustrations have appeared in many children's books, including the Parent's Choice Award-Winning On Hanukkah by Cathy Goldberg Fishman.