Mr Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
| Mr Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown | |
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| Category: For Sharing | |
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Reviewer: Lorraine McDonald
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| Summary: Mr Tiger is bored of ‘proper’ behaviour - polite conversation, sipping tea and walking upright. He wants to have some fun. Eye-catching and unusual art work help to tell the tale of how he learns to be himself and changes his town. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 48 | Date: September 2013 |
| Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9781447253259 | |
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There’s something special about tigers. And there’s definitely something special about Mr Tiger. He’s the star of Peter Brown’s picture book, ‘Mr Tiger Goes Wild’. This distinctive book takes the themes of fitting in and being true to who you are, and explores them through the character of one animal who challenges the status quo and dares to be different.
In Mr Tiger’s town the buildings are dull brown and box like. The animals that live there are dull brown too; except for Mr Tiger. His bright orange stripes shine out from under his suit and top hat. Pretty soon his personality starts to shine out too. He’s bored of ‘proper’ behaviour - polite conversation, sipping tea and walking upright. He wants to have some fun. He wants to be himself. Mr Tiger starts by walking on all fours. He progresses to chasing children and climbing buildings. He ROARS. On a park bench. Loudly. The other town animals are shocked, bemused then exasperated. The final straw comes when Mr Tiger takes a dip in the town fountain and emerges without his clothes. A shocked lady elephant suggests that such behaviour would be better practiced in the wilderness. Fun seeking Mr Tiger doesn’t hesitate, he goes! And he does have fun until he starts to feel lonely and misses his old life. He decides to go back. Luckily, town has changed since Mr Tiger was last there. The other animals have decided to be themselves too. Mr Tiger fits back in – sometimes he wears clothes and walks upright, and sometimes he doesn’t. There is a time and a place for everything.
Much of this story is communicated graphically. In one sequence a series of images is presented of Mr Tiger’s head descending down the page, his eyes rolling magnificently. Is he shrinking? Is he falling? No! The next page reveals he has reverted to walking on all four paws. Likewise, Mr Tiger’s conversion to naturism is not described in words. Instead, a double page spread sees him jump in one side of the town fountain to emerge from the other with his clothes floating in the water. Brown’s use of suggestion through imagery is creative and clever. Though parental explanation may be required, it adds depth and interest to the story. This is not out of place in a book intended for sharing.
The artwork in Mr Tiger Goes Wild bears a resemblance to the artist Rosseau’s two dimensional, naïve style. A technical explanation is provided on the rear fly leaf of how the look was actually achieved but the feel is part Victoriana, part naturalistic. In terms of modern picture books, it stands out. Colour is used to emphasise difference. Just three hues feature. So Mr Tiger is orange whilst the other animals are brown. The town is brown and the wilderness is green. There is richness to the shades selected and their meaning is distinctive. Although Mr Tiger is a colourful character, literally and figuratively, this is still a limited palette. Some parents and children may prefer more colourful and conventional artwork. However, in this case this would be at the cost of meaning and impact. My little boy’s eyes were on stalks when the page was turned to reveal Mr Tiger in his full ‘naked’ orange glory.
Any child who has ever been shushed in a library, told to sit still at dinner or forced in to clothes when they would rather be bare, will empathise with Mr Tiger’s desire to go wild. Though Mr Tiger is really only a mild anarchist, his antics and the reaction of the town animals, will draw a chuckle from most children. The moral running through the story is handled with a light touch but it is there to be explored with a parent should you so wish. Though the theme has been well covered elsewhere, what makes this book unusual and engaging is the quirky artwork, the characterisation of our hero and the economy of the text. Mr Tiger had one last surprise for my son and me. Lifting the dust jacket we found his textured tiger stripes hiding beneath. Now there’s something different and wild!
If this book appeals then do have a look at:
The Tiger Who Came To Tea by Judith Kerr
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You can read more book reviews or buy Mr Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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