Tiger in a Tutu by Fabi Santiago
| Tiger in a Tutu by Fabi Santiago | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Zoe Morris
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| Summary: A wonderful tale of a tiger (with a tail), a tutu, and a dream of being a ballet star | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: March 2016 |
| Publisher: Orchard Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1408336885 | |
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Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017: llustrated Books
Everyone should have the chance to dance, non? Especially in such a wonderful city as Paris, bursting as it is with artists and appreciators of the arts. It is with a sad heart, then, that I must tell you about Max. Every day, he goes to ballet school, and every day he is turned away. Not only is he lacking the requisite attire, but he's a boy, and a tiger. And apparently that is not allowed.
What Max knows, though, is that a true dancer, a dancer who has rhythm down to their core, someone whose heart, as the saying goes, beats in eight-counts, will always find a way. And so Max dances and prances through the city streets. And still no one notices him. What must he do? Will he ever be able to fulfil his dream of being a tiger in a tutu, with an audience applauding appreciatively?
This book is precious, a wonderful cocktail of all my favourite things, like les rues parisiennes, ballet and, of course tigers. Ready to rival The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr, Max is just as handsome, just as dashing and just as unconventional. I loved seeing the sights of Paris flash by in the pages as Max explores his city, which I know so well from visits and from books such as A Walk In Paris by Salvatore Rubbino . I loved the ballet details and the small touches of French, Encore, merci, bonjour, très chic that littered the pages. But most of all I adored the story of the underdog, the hard work and, mais oui the happy ending.
This review could not be complete without a note on the presentation because this book is beautiful. No detail is overlooked, from the inside covers and their cityscape to the opening pages where you get the merest hint of what's to come – a tiger's tail ominously protruding from a curtain on stage. It's all wonderful and I enjoyed reading the pictures as much as I did the words.
This book is perfect. Not an ounce of it could be improved, and it left me with a warm feeling inside. If that doesn't say très bien I don't know what does.
Thanks go to the publishers for supplying this book. Little Red by Bethan Woolvin is for the same age group and has quite a twist at the end.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Tiger in a Tutu by Fabi Santiago at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Tiger in a Tutu by Fabi Santiago at Amazon.com.
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