  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 04/01/2019 *Starred Review* A young boy, his older brother, and their parents head to the woods for their annual end-of-summer weekend camping trip. Looking forward to fishing, hiking, canoeing, and observing the usual woodland critters, they are taken aback when a small, thin tiger enters their campsite and asks if they have an extra tent he can use. Though the boy is anxious about entering first grade upon their return home, a talking tiger doesn’t faze him at all. Over the weekend, the whole family spends time with the animal, but it’s the youngest who forms an immediate bond. As he draws stripes on his face and explores with his new companion, the heretofore apprehensive child discovers a new boldness. Caldecott Honor Book author-illustrator Rocco's stunning paintings feature a range of perspectives and a variety of sizes, including vignettes and single- and double-page spreads. They are filled with the warm browns and lush greens of the forest and the beautiful blues of the lake and the night sky. The tiger’s fur appears soft and warm, and the realistic water looks cool and refreshing. Several illustrations are placed on a pure white backdrop, allowing the paintings to leap off the pages. Youngsters will thrill at the possibilities presented in Pulitzer finalist Choi’s tale, which combines fantasy with the everyday. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. School Library Journal - 05/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—A tiger joins a young boy and his family as they enjoy a camping weekend in the mountains. It creeps out of the woods while they are making camp and asks whether they have an extra tent where he can take shelter from the cold. The boy and tiger spend the night together, and the creature remains throughout the weekend, even joining the family on a fishing excursion. On the last night, the animal takes the boy out in the canoe. They lie on their backs, gazing at the stars, until his parents lift the youngster into their tent. Alert readers will notice several hints that the tiger is an imaginary comfort creature, conjured up by the young narrator who is afraid of going into first grade and becoming more independent like his older brother. The tiger is small and "starts acting like a cat—a more regular cat." The boy even tells the animal that tigers don't live in the mountains. The mixed media illustrations are stunning. Rocco's cover image of the tiger, yellow eyes staring out at readers, is so huge its head seems to form a road for the hiking family. On one spread, the boy and tiger are curled up together, one large C encircling a smaller one. Back at home, wearing tiger-striped pajamas, the boy draws his imaginary friend "before [he] forget[s]." VERDICT This beautiful paring of text and illustrations is an excellent choice for group sharing and can spark discussion about ways to cope with new situations.—Marianne Saccardi, Children's Literature Consultant, Cambridge, MA - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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