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”
been asked to look at this collection by the supplier Books2door and as it is a group of stories about Christmas (my favourite time of the year, despite the weather), I agreed. The publisher is also one that I am very fond of; Little Tiger was founded in 1987 and ran as an independent publisher until 2019, when it was bought by Penguin Random House, but it still maintains its ethos and individualism. There are ten picture books in this collection and they are a mix of traditional stories and modern tales. Interestingly there are only two titles that actually have human characters, with the other eight featuring a wide, but familiar range of animals.
Caroline Pedler is the story of two small mice, named Bubble and Squeak, who are visiting their Granny for Christmas. But how will Father Christmas know where to deliver any presents and even more worrying, how will he get in the house? Granny doesn’t have a chimney, but she comes up with an exciting alternative that they can all enjoy.
“Waiting for Santa” by Steve Metzger and Alison Edgson shows us the power of believing and of friendship. Little bear is convinced that Santa will bring presents at Christmas, but badger is very sceptical as they have never had presents before. Despite this the friends all decorate a tree, with a star on top and snuggle up to wait for Santa, but will they get the surprise they wanted? Well it is Christmas and dreams can come true.
Macnaughton has been a firm Christmas favourite since it was published over a decade ago. When little hedgehog is woken from his winter sleep he is too cold to go back to sleep, but then out of the sky falls a parcel and it is addressed to him! Inside is a red woolly hat, but as it doesn’t fit, he decides to give it to his friend. The hat is passed to several animals before it finally finds its true home and everyone can snuggle down and keep warm.
“The Night before Christmas” by Clement C Moore and Mark Marshall. This is a re-telling of the now classic story of Christmas eve and is probably how most young children have learnt the names of Santa’s reindeer. As always, this story leaves a nice warm glow.
Edgson tells the story of young rabbit, who has spent the morning building a very special snowman. When he is asked to pick some berries for tea, he sets off and enjoys it so much, he doesn’t see the now start to fall and the visibility disappear. Magically he is rescued by the snowman and gets home safely.
“A Christmas Wish” by Julia Hubery and Sophy Williams is the story of Gemma and her little brother Ty. When Ty accidentally breaks her favourite tree decoration, Gemma is very upset and angry. But then she remembers all the nice things about her brother and when she finds that he has left some glue and a note saying ‘I’m sorry’ outside her door, she realises that the ornament can be mended and she wants to make up with her brother.
Yerrill is about the wonder and joy of experiencing your first Christmas celebration. Little Mouse has never had a Christmas, so he asks his large family what it means to them. Parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins and other relatives all share their favourite things. This can vary from making snowmen, sledging, and snowball fights, to Christmas dinner, presents and keeping warm around a fire. All of the things that we imagine a magical Christmas to be, but mainly it is about sharing with family and friends.
“Big Bear, Little Bear” by David Bedford and Jane Chapman is the delightful story of a polar bear and her cub. The latter wants to grow up as big and strong as his mother and to be able to do all the things she does, but she explains that when he is big, she won’t be able to give him a ride on her shoulders. So he decides that growing up is a long term aim, as he loves sharing adventures with his mother.
Chapman tells the story of a young rabbit called Moz, who is being squashed by his siblings in the burrow. He decides to go outside and meets his friend Albatross, who offers to take him for a flight. Unfortunately Moz falls off and ends up in the snow and then inside a huge ice hall. At first it is exciting, but then he gets scared and misses his family, so he manages to escape from the ice. Luckily Albatross finds him and he is soon back in the warmth of the burrow and the cuddles of the family.
“When will it Snow?” by Kathryn White and Alison Edgson features another young bear who is longing to see snow. However his mother tells him that bears hibernate when the snow arrives, so he will not be able to seethe winter. So little bear asks his friends, mole and squirrel, what snow is like and they explain about the way it falls, goes slushy and how you can make snow angels. They also confirm that they will be out playing in the winter weather and bear is worried that they will forget about his during the winter and that he will lose his friends. But as we all know, true friends do not forget about you over a short period of time and all is well in the end.