Tiptoe tiger

Toddler-PreS--Criteria for a toddler book is simple: they should be short with a bouncy read-aloud rhythm, interesting illustrations, and maybe include an educational component. This book hits the mark on every element. The rhymes are fun to say and trip off the tongue. Each page contains exciting interactive elements that teach color identification, counting, volume control, and so much more. It's perfectly paced and designed to help children connect with the act of reading, to whisper and point, and to delight in a day with a colorful tiger. The illustrations are basic but lush, a colorful jungle world prepared for a child to get lost in. VERDICT A truly joyful "reading" experience, perfect for a board book collection, preschool shelves, or lapsitting story hours.--Cat McCarrey

A tiger searches for a play date in the jungle. Tara isn't ready for bed. She wants to play one more game, but who will play with her? She spies some fluttering wings in the sky. Perhaps they belong to someone who wants to play. "Let's tell Tara to tiptoe up quietly / so she doesn't scare them away," cautions the narrator. But oh no! Tara doesn't tiptoe. Her pounce frightens the butterflies away ("Can you flutter your arms / up and down really fast?"). Then Tara spies some owls in a tree ("How many owls can you count?"). This time Tara tiptoes, but she also roars. Oh, Tara. The owls swoop away. ("I bet you can roar just as loudly as Tara.") The interactive prompts aren't just animal sounds and actions; there is also some light mathematics: "But look! There's a tail / dangling down from a tree. / Can you stretch your arms wide / to show how long it is?" Teckentrup's bright orange feline stands out against the large, blocky foliage and silhouetted moon. The palette gradually darkens as the night stretches on and Tara finally settles down, snuggled and content, with the (perhaps naïve) hope that readers will do so, too. (This book was reviewed digitally.) For those who need one more pounce before bed. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.