Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--An unlikely friendship between a tiger and a cat offers hope and a bit of magical thinking in this quiet, quirky offering. Tiger languishes in his cage at the city zoo while his friend and confidante--a black-and-white cat sporting a hat and red sweater--runs free, doing as he pleases. Cat tells his friend that "sometimes I wish I were like you--big, smart, strong…" But the tiger envies his friend's freedom and longs to go home. He asks the cat to help him escape and outlines a plan. On the designated night, the zookeeper arrives with his flashlight. "'Where do you think you're going with those keys?'" What happens next is not only surprising, but empowering. Suffice it to say, mission accomplished. The delicate watercolor artwork features a variety of animals and people at a traditional zoo with city buildings in the skyline juxtaposed against the lush greens and blues and starry skies of the tiger's homeland. VERDICT This special book is filled with humor and heart--a winning combination--that is sure to prompt discussion.--Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A tale of longing, friendship, and the power of freedom.Originally published in Spain as Un buen da, this story features two unusual friends, a well-dressed cat and a tiger inhabitant of a retro-style zoo. The tiger lives in a rounded cage, where he is stared at by crowds of visitors, next to an elephant, monkeys, birds, and morealso in cages. The tiger longs for the wild, where he could roam as he pleased. The cat wants his friend to be happy and eventually finds a way to help him fulfill his dream. In so doing, the cat discovers a new friend at the zoo. Muted illustrations depict the zoo in a panorama that scrolls from spread to spread, giving readers a view of the exhibits. However, the design, which lays the zoo's cages out in a line at the bottom of nearly all spreads that don't depict the tiger's natural habitat, while reflective of the monotony of zoo life, is repetitive and lacks interest and variety. One illustrationin which the tiger seems to act out his wish to leave the zoooffers viewers an intriguing set of images laid out in vertical panels. Straightforward, dry dialogue belies the depth of the friendship between the tiger and cat. As a result, this story may need a grown-up to help young readers grasp the subtle humor.An understated and perhaps too-quiet friendship story. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
