One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner

One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner
Buy One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: A board book to help with counting which has an underlying story. Highly recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 26	Date: April 2017
Publisher: Little Tiger Press
ISBN: 978-1848692343
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I love a good counting book! I particularly like one that has a story attached to it, rather than just 'one ball, two oranges, three dolls...' I like a counting book which is well drawn too and where care and thought has gone into the production of the book: you can't start to appreciate the good things in life too soon and One Happy Tiger ticks all those boxes, but when we first meet him tiger is rather sad. He's sitting all alone and whilst he might not have a frown on his face or tears in his eyes he has a look of dejection about him.

This improves to 'thoughtfulness' when he spots two bright bugs and 'curiosity' when he sees three singing birds. He's surprised (look at the way his tail goes up) when he finds four floating butterflies and becomes a little bit cheeky when he encounters five dragonflies. You're getting the idea, aren't you? The more Tiger meets other birds, insects or bugs, the happier he is and he becomes positively playful as he enjoys the pleasures of the natural world around him. As a parent and grandparent what pleased me was that all the pleasures were out in the open air, didn't involve technology in any form and were completely free! You can go outside and do this now.

Catherine Rayner perfectly captures Tiger as his mood changes: you'd be hard pressed to say exactly what's different about him, but you know he's happier - and when we meet one dancing tiger and SEVEN plump raindrops his tail's so high it's almost tickling his ears. It might be raining, but it's still fun - there's a lesson there for adults and children. I like too the emphasis on friendship between the species - there's no suggestion that Tiger is any danger to anything which he encounters - or that anything is a danger to him just because there's a difference.

The book is beautifully produced, with rounded corners for when it's used as a missile and a solid hardback which will stand a lot of toddler affection. The pages are sturdy and easy for small hands to turn. I even managed to wipe some marks away. The book will pass on to siblings/other children as there's absolutely nothing to date the book and it's one which children will remember with affection in later years. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

I think this tiger has a name: I think it's Augustus and we've been in search of his smile before!

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You can read more book reviews or buy One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner 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 One Happy Tiger by Catherine Rayner at Amazon.com.

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