A Cup of Christmas Tea [Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Tom Hegg (Author), Jo Anne Ferris (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1992

The story of a young man's reluctant visit to an elderly aunt at Christmastime, and the unexpected joy it brings. More than 1.5 million copies sold of A Cup of Christmas Tea. Delicate watercolor illustrations throughout.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In rhyming verse, Hegg tells a familiar, uplifting story of the onerous family obligations that often descend around the holidays. The narrator is almost perfectly happy as Christmas approaches, enjoying the "30 days reprieve ’til VISA could catch up with me." Unfortunately, he has received an invitation to tea from his great aunt, and he has no desire to go. He remembers the old woman "as vigorous,/ as funny and as bright," but she recently suffered a stroke, and he thinks it will be depressing to see her. Before long, though, he succumbs to "an acid rain of guilt" and forces himself to go, and the experience is ultimately rewarding. Hegg doesn’t employ continuous rhyme or meter, so the writing never becomes overbearing or stilted but rather has a conversational lilt. In its first edition, published in 1982, the book sold more than 1.5 million copies, and this reissue takes the shape of a special gift format that is nearly stocking-size and, with its rich red jacket, almost looks gift-wrapped. The packaging also highlights the Christmas colors in Hanson’s fine, minimalist watercolors, which are bright on the golden pages. The beautiful presentation combined with Hegg’s simple yet resonant story may help this book draw an even larger readership this time around.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Tom Hegg is a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, actor and writer. He has touched countless lives with his New York Times bestselling title, A Cup of Christmas Tea, and his series of books about PEEF The Christmas Bear. Tom is a drama teacher at Breck School in Minneapolis where he holds the rank of Master Teacher. He trained at Carnegie Mellon and performed for many magical seasons at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Tom and his wife Peggy live in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Author and illustrator, public speaker and musician, Warren Hanson has his name on several currently available books, including two he wrote and illustrated: The Next Place (1997; over 250,000 sold); Older Love (1999; nearly 20,000 sold); and six that he illustrated: A Cup of Christmas Tea (1982; 1.5 million sold); A Memory of Christmas Tea (1999; over 110,000 sold); Mark of the Maker (1991; over 50,000 sold); PEEF The Christmas Bear (1995; 240,000 sold); A Silent Night for PEEF (1998; 65,000 sold); Reading With Dad (2000; 12,000 sold).

On his business card, right under Warren Hanson’s name, it says “illustrator, author, amateur.” As an amateur, he goes back to the word’s Latin root, which means “someone who does something purely for the love of doing it. “ Warren Hanson love what he does. And it shows. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Waldman House Pr (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0931674107
• ISBN-13: 978-0931674105
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,196,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magic of the Season, December 2, 1999

By 

Happy Buyer (Vancouver, Washington USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Cup of Christmas Tea (Hardcover)

Tom Hegg's beautiful poem reminds us that people are the true magic of the season and that the best "gifts" can come from the most unexpeced places. This is a lovely book. I bought 7 copies so I could give them as gifts. The story and the lesson are timeless. What a treasure Mr. Hegg has given all of us.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This hits home-probably with all of us, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Cup of Christmas Tea (Hardcover)

What a celebration of Christmas and the love felt by older folks. It's Like "Timothy Cratchit's Christmas Carol, 1917" (which I had never heard of until I saw it on Amazon) in which it describes the love the elderly have for their children. Mr. Hegg, this is a gem

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True meaning of Christmas conveyed with elegant simplicity!, April 23, 1999

By 

"rrr338" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cup of Christmas Tea (Hardcover)

I've just received a copy of "A Christmas Cup of Tea" (on a chilly April day!) and have read it over six times. With each reading, this beautifully understated story of rediscovered joy in reaching out and connecting with others seems to reveal a little more insight. This is truly the "Heart Sutra" of Christmas theme books! An absolute must as a gift for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the hubbub of the holiday rush!