The third book of the I Wish You Ice Cream and Cake series teaches children how to show appreciation for your friends who give back to the community. Ruby Kate, a Florida black bear residing in St. James, Florida, plans a tea party for her neighbors Frank the Gopher Tortoise, Katherine the Eastern Indigo Snake and Franny the Florida Scrub Jay Bird. Ruby Kate makes scrumptious tea cakes that readers can recreate with a recipe from a local Tallahassee bakery at the back of the book.
Carol Moore has had a love for children and animals all of her life. Ruby Kate is named for Carol's grandmothers, Ruby Strickland and Kate Hair. The families have been in Live Oak, Florida, since the 1850s. Ruby served two terms as mayor of Live Oak. She also served as delegate from Florida to the Democratic National Convention in 1936 and was vice-chair of the Florida delegation. Kate was a loving grandmother who wore purple, even her hats and shoes, and lived in a big old grandmother's house. Carol shared lots of tea parties with her grandmothers, Ruby and Kate. Carol received her B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University. She taught second grade in Gainesville, Florida, while her husband Ed finished law school at the University of Florida. Carol and Ed live in Tallahassee and enjoy their three children, the children's spouses, and their seven grandchildren. Church, family, friends, music, gardening, and writing are Carol's favorite pastimes.