I have been contemplating a blog post about “Tiger tales” for quite some
time, as I kept discovering more and more books which feature these majestic creatures. The realization that this is the Chinese “Year of the Tiger” spurred me on to actually put together this group of books. One of the main problems is that I keep finding even more, really exciting sounding books that I have now got on my ‘to be read’ list. I have added these to the end of the blog post, so that you can all have a go at reading some of them.
Pavilion, 9781843654018
“Big Cat” by Emma Lazell is a very funny look at what happens when Grandma loses her spectacles. She finds a very large cat and decides to look after it, but what everyone else can see is that this is no ordinary Cat. Eventually some visitors, who are out searching for their son, find the glasses and everything becomes very clear!! There is a real sense of playfulness with this story and I detect a certain ‘homage’ to The Tiger who came to Tea. Definitely one to keep and keep re-reading.
Little Tiger, 9781788810418
“Squish, Squash, Squeeze” by Tracey Corderoy and Jane Chapman tells the story of Mouse, who thinks he has found the perfect new home, but Bear, Crocodile, and Tiger say there is no room for them all. When the floor collapses under them they are scared, but perhaps a burrowing Mole has provided the solution to all of their problems? Another superbly funny picture book from Tracey Corderoy.
Scholastic, 9781407185712
“Collecting Cats” by Lorna Scobie. When the narrator of the story decides they want to collect cats they go about it in a very unusual way. Firstly they get a load of cheese, this attracts mice and eventually the cats arrive to catch the mice. However, you can have too much of a good thing and eventually they decide that collecting cheese is a better idea. This is a fantastically silly and funny story, full of very kind of cat, so everyone is probably going to see their own version.
HarperCollins, 9780007215997
“The Tiger who came to Tea” by Judith Kerr is a modern classic, which is now celebrating 54 years since its original publication in 1968. I probably came across it when I started working in a library in the early 1970s, so it has been part of my professional life for a very long time. We never seem to tire of this somewhat unwelcome visitor, but are always thankful when he decides to leave. Despite the setting, this seems to avoid many of the criticisms that could be made about gender roles in particular. I still love it as a story.
Nosy Crow, 9781788002523
“This Zoo is not for You” by Ross Collins. When platypus turns up at the zoo, the animals assume that he is there for an interview to join the zoo. Each of them finds a reason why he would not fit in, based on their own preferences. However, after he has left, they discover a letter, inviting them to a party on his Platybus!! After apologies all round, everyone enjoys the fun. A brilliant book about not making assumptions, or judging by appearances.
Bloomsbury, 9781408892183
“Ravi’s Roar” by Tom Percival is another delightful book by this author and it focuses on the feelings that the youngest member of a family can feel. Ravi feels left out of things by his siblings and he always seems to be last, because of his size. One day it all becomes too much and Ravi is so angry, he turns in to a tiger, but what will happen when he calms down? This is a brilliant look at coping with anger and is a welcome addition to the other books by Tom Percival, which deal with emotional well-being.
Nosy Crow, 9781788005678
“Tiger, Tiger burning bright” by Fiona Waters and Britta Teckentrup is an amazing poetry collection for the younger reader, although it requires a table or very strong arms when reading it. It really is one of those collections that every primary school should have and will act as a wonderful focus for children and their imaginations.
HarperCollins, 9780007119691
Tiger in the Snow by Nick Butterworth is an absolute classic, featuring a tabby kitten, called Tiger and the adventure he has when he discovers snow for the first time. With all of his friends either too cold or too busy to come and play, can Tiger find a companion to share his fun?
Macmillan,9781509855155
“I am a Tiger” by Karl Newsom and Ross Collins is an absolutely hysterical story of a mouse who insists that he is actually a tiger. He manages to persuade several other animals that they are not who they think they are. However, when a real tiger appears on the scene, can the mouse persuade him that he is actually a MOUSE!! This is an real delight and a must have in every early years setting
Bloomsbury, 9781408839041
“Never tickle a tiger” by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Marc Boutevant. Izzy is a girl who can’t keep still. She is always wriggling and jiggling and generally causing havoc. Can Izzy behave herself on a school visit to the Zoo and what will happen if she can’t? A colourful and very energetic story about a young girl who cannot seem to keep out of trouble. Izzy is one of those children who has to try everything and only learns from her mistakes. On this occasion she creates total mayhem as she disregards the order “never tickle a tiger” and we have an amazing 4 page spread explaining just how big a disaster she has caused. You would think that she has finally learnt her lesson, but I wouldn’t be sure about that. This is a definite morality tale, much in the style of Hilaire Belloc, but with a thoroughly modern heroine. A really fun book for younger readers.
Welbeck, 9781783125661
“Interview with a Tiger and other Clawed Beasts too” by Andy Seed and Nick East. What a fascinating and very funny book this is, particularly if you want information but without the boring bits. The author gives us a series of ‘interviews’ with a range of animals and we get a wonderfully relaxed set of answers about them and their lifestyles.
Orion, 9781510107045
“Tiger Heart” by Penny Chrimes. Fly is a young girl, abandoned at birth and then taken to work for a chimney sweep, climbing up and down the chimneys all day. One day she makes a bid for freedom and quite literally finds herself trapped in a cage with a rather large tiger. The strangest thing is that this creature begins to talk to her and she can understand him, but most oddly of all the tiger insists on calling her ‘princess’ and says that she comes from the same land as himself. They escape from the house they are in but find themselves hunted by the man responsible for bringing the tiger and other animals to this country. This is a story about friendship, knowing yourself and trying to understand the world around you. It is a lesson in not letting physical possessions become the most important thing in life, but in knowing that people are what make the world a better place to live in
Lion, 9781782643173
“The Tigers in the Tower” by Julia Golding is a fascinating story of animals at the Tower of London in the 19th Century. there is a full review of this book on this blog, written in September 2020.
Usborne, 9781474903042
“The troublesome |Tiger” by Tamsyn Murray is part of her series for young readers, featuring Zoe, who lives at Tanglewood Animal Park. This book is about Tindu, a new addition to the park, but one that is not settling in to their new home. Can Zoe help and make their new tiger feel at home. This is a great series for those who love animals and is an excellent precursor to reading Gill Lewis and similar writers.
These are some other books that I have come across and hope to read, or re-read in the near future. Do give some of them a try.
“Mr Tiger goes Wild” by Peter Brown
Two Hoots, 978-1509848232
“Cinnamon” by Neil Gaiman and Divya Srinivasan
Bloomsbury, 978-1408879221
“Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon” by Sally Gardner
Zephyr, 978-1786697189
“The Time traveller and the Tiger” by Tania Unsworth
Zephyr, 978-1788541718
“The Dancing Tiger” by Malachy Doyle
Simon and Schuster Children’s, 978-0689873102
“The magic Bed” by John Burningham
Red Fox, 978-0099439691
“Love is…” by Sarah Maycock
Big Picture Press, 978-1787418745
“Tiger in trouble” by Jess Butterworth
Orion, 978-1510107984
“There’s a Tiger in the garden” by Lizzy Stewart
Lincoln Children’s Books, 978-1847808073
So, from me and my tiger friends, enjoy these books and have a wonderful “Year of the Tiger”
and the family of toy rabbits called the Twitches. When Stevie and her mother move from their tower block flat she is given a wonderful and quaint dolls’ house, in the shape of a teapot. Included are all the furnishings and fitting and a complete library; most fantastic of all are the family of toy rabbits that inhabit the house. What Stevie does not know is that the rabbits magically come alive and when the father, Gabriel is lost in the garden during the furniture moving, it is up to the family and especially young Silver to find him and get him back home. It is a lovely story about the importance of home and family and I am looking forward to reading more of their adventures in the future.
series of books by this French Canadian author and which was first published in 1994. It is a short and very witty story about what happens when Miss Charlotte arrives to teach a class of young children who do not enjoy school. Her somewhat eccentric methods eventually make her very popular, but the children find that they have to fight to keep the teacher they have come to love and admire. As a follow on, you might like to read “The Mysterious Librarian” which sees Miss Charlotte take on the challenge of encouraging children to enjoy reading.
“The Spooky School” by Tracey Corderoy and Steve Lenton is another set of short stories about the cake-baking, crime-fighting duo of Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam. They originally started their adventures in picture book format but have now branched out for the next age group. In this book they save jewels, fight ghosts and meet a fiendish new villain; a Red Panda called ‘Red Rocket’. It is great fun.
in the “Tanglewood Animal Park” series which follows the adventures of young Zoe, whose parents have bought Tanglewood Manor and turned it into an Animal Park. This story revolves around Tindu the male Tiger and the attempts to help him settle down in the park, before the arrival of his new mate. It is a charming story with a lot of information and a cast of characters that you can’t help but like. This is a super series, especially if you are an animal lover.
adventures of young Lady Miranda and her dog called Pug as they visit the local boating lake. However when things get out of control and Pug finds himself in the sea and being rescued by another young girl life becomes quite adventurous. This is the first in a series of adventures for the pampered pooch and joins the list of books written about the breed.
Pug related story only this time the hero is called Pugly and he is trying to bake a cake for his owner. Unfortunately his efforts seem to be being sabotaged by Clementine (Clem) the family cat. Most families with a mix of pets will understand the frictions between the main characters and the very funny scrapes that they get themselves in to.
“Marge and the Pirate baby” by Isla Fisher is the second book featuring Marge, a truly unique babysitter. This time she is looking after Jemima and Jake as usual, but finds herself having to look after their demon of a baby cousin called Zara. There are three short stories in this offering and I think that the author is really starting to be comfortable with her characters, which means that we become more involved with the stories. This is a funny and quirky book for both boys and girls.
where he is from. That is the situation that D.J and Gina find themselves in and they then have to try and find a way of sending him back home. This book is the first in a series of comic style books being published by Puffin. It is bright , well illustrated and full of humour; in other words it is great for boys in particular, although the strong female character makes it fun for everyone.
another one of their fantastically funny collaborations. Set in Funfair Moon it is full of zany aliens, dastardly villains and a clever heroine called Emily. As you would expect this will take you on a ‘roller coaster ride’ of excitement. The illustrations are full of the energy and humour that we have come to expect. It is a great book to read alone or to a class.
Teddington, disguised as humans. This book sees them and their friends going to Cornwall on their summer holidays. As usual there are lots of ‘groan worthy’ jokes as well as puns, both written and visual. I love the way that the author’s voice comes across so easily and the illustrator’s ability to translate all of this visually. A really great read for all ages.
on his nose as they are leaving his cave; that is when he finds that all his food is missing. He goes outside and discovers the wonder of the snow. Rabbit offers him a moldy old carrot to eat, which he is very grateful for. However he does not know that it is Rabbit who has stolen his food. When a wolf comes looking for some food the two friends have to work together and Rabbit in particular learns a few things about friendship. What a funny story with some gross elements such as Rabbit eating his own poo (yuck!)
Toad frozen solid in the ice house, little did they guess that it was the (in)famous Toad that they had heard stories of from their grandparents. Toad of course is just as excitable as in the past and when he finds that the weasels have taken over Toad Hall and want to knock it down for a housing estate, he is determined to get it back. With the help of his new young friends he finds a way to challenge the weasels. This is a great story full of charm and humour that really retains the spirit of the original and this is captured by the super illustrations by Holly Swain.
