Margaret Wise Brown is famous for her book Goodnight Moon but she was actually the author of more than one hundred books. Seventy books were found after her death in 1952 and all have been published posthumously. One of those books is Be Brave, Little Tiger which was published in 2018. I love the idea that a book written over seventy years ago has such a modern look. I also love the global connections in this story - an author from USA, an illustrator from UK and readers here in Australia. I mentioned that this book looks 'modern'. I will explain:
When you pick up this book there are some delightful things to notice - features which may not have been added if this book had been published back when Margaret Wise Brown first wrote the text. The vibrant full colour illustrations, the two different end papers - morning scene and night scene, framed illustrations, full page illustrations, double page illustrations and pages where you need to turn the book sideways. The text uses different font styles - bold, italic, size variations and capitals all for emphasis.
Our story opens with a song:
"I'm a brave little tiger, ho ho ho!
I'm not afraid wherever I go!"
But our little tiger is not really brave. This song is just his way of trying to feel brave. He is afraid of the monkeys, the bees, the birds and the fish. He is too scared to jump in the river and join his friends for a swim. His mum and dad give good advice: "everyone is afraid of something sometimes"; "even an elephant is afraid sometimes."
There is a lovely structure to this story. It opens with the little tiger walking through the forest. He repeats this journey the next day but, with his fears put to rest, the whole scene seems different.
There are some wonderful words in this book:
- gargantuan
- lounging
- encountered
- delicately
- skittered
When you pick up this book I am sure you will enjoy sharing it with a preschool child. We all have our fears and worries. The solutions are not simple but with a little effort it is possible to take small steps forward and perhaps feel a little less afraid.
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