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Mr. Tiger Goes Wild
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2013)Are you bored with being so proper?
Do you want to have more fun?
Mr Tiger knows exactly how you feel. So he decides to go wild.
But does he go too far?
There is a time and place for everything...even going wild.
Do you want to have more fun?
Mr Tiger knows exactly how you feel. So he decides to go wild.
But does he go too far?
There is a time and place for everything...even going wild.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2013
33 people are currently reading
3097 people want to read
About the author
Peter Brown
50 books1,485 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books.
"Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.
After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.
Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.
Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York."
Source: About Peter Brown.
Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books.
"Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.
After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.
Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.
Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York."
Source: About Peter Brown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 897 reviews
January 2, 2014
Here’s a fun exercise to liven up a gloomy day. Find yourself a copy of the picture book Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. Now turn to the publication page. It’s the green one opposite the title page at the beginning of the book. Now scroll down until you find the Library of Congress subject headings for this title. The very first one reads, “Self-actualization (Psychology)”. I am no cataloger, nor do I particularly mind it when they attribute terms of this sort to picture books, but anyone can see that this is a pretty amusing way to describe a book about a tiger with issues with civilization. It is rare to find a picture book this easy to love on sight, but author/illustrator Peter Brown is beginning to perfect his form. Hard to believe that the man who started out with Flight of the Dodo and Chowder has figured out how one goes about writing and illustrating modern day classics. With influences as diverse as Rousseau and 1960s Disney animators, Brown creates a wholly believable universe in a scant number of pages. Now prepare to turn said pages over and over and over again.
No one expected Mr. Tiger to be such a troublemaker. At first he was like everyone else. Sporting starched collars and silk top hats. Attending dignified tea parties and engaging in the usual chitchat about the weather that day. But Mr. Tiger is bored. “He wanted to loosen up. He wanted to have fun. He wanted to be… wild.” But wildness is not tolerated in the city, a fact Mr. Tiger discovers when his explorations into wildness involve pouncing across the rooftops, roaring in public, and going au naturel. It’s that final sin that has him dismissed from the city to the wilderness, where he gets to completely let go. It’s great for a time, but soon Mr. Tiger misses his friends and his home. When he returns he finds more comfortable clothes and the fact that the people there have loosened up a bit themselves, thanks in no small part to his influence.
Now I know there are folks out there for whom The Curious Garden is the top of the pops and Brown will never be able to make anything that good again. And that was a very nice book, no question but here is a book where Brown has hit his stride. First off, he has tackled the old anthropomorphic animal question; If you put a tiger in a suit, is he even a tiger anymore? Kids are very used to seeing animals wearing clothes and fulfilling human roles. I’ve always said that if you ever want to write a book about adults for kids, all you need to do is turn those adults into furry woodland creatures (hey, it worked for Redwall!). The idea that an animal might want to return to its wilder roots is a novel one for them. Imagine if Donald Duck tore off his sailor suit to peck at bread on the water, or Mickey Mouse removed those red shorts and started hunting down some cheese rinds. It’s almost, but not quite, obscene. Brown taps into that seeming obscenity, and uses it to give kids a mighty original tale.
2013 was a very good year for picture books with wordless two-page spreads. When used incorrectly, such spreads stop the action dead. Used correctly, they make the child reader stop and think. In a particularly Miss Rumphius-ish two-pager, Mr. Tiger walks alone in a wide-open field. He isn’t prancing or running or leaping anymore. His expression is utterly neutral. It’s just him and the flowers and the scrub bushes. Little wonder that when you turn the page he’s lonely once more. Brown uses this spread to bridge the gap between Mr. Tiger’s catharsis and his desire for company. Without it, the sudden shift in mood would feel out-of-character.
It’s hard to find folks who dislike this book but occasionally one comes out. The only real criticism I’ve seen of it was when I heard someone complain that Brown’s style is just like a lot of books coming out these days, particularly those of Jon Klassen. Hardly fair, though you can see what they mean when you hold this up next to This Is Not My Hat. But Brown is quite capable of manipulating his own style when he sees fit. Compare this book to others he’s made and you’ll see the difference. The noir feel of Creepy Carrots or the folksy faux wood border of Children Make Terrible Pets are a far cry from Mr. Tiger’s Rousseau-like setting. Brown has culled his influences over the years, and in this particular book he flattens the images purposefully, emulating the backgrounds of 1960s Disney films like Sleeping Beauty. The colors here are particularly deliberate. There’s the orange of Mr. Tiger (and his speech balloons), the green of the wilderness, and the orange of the sun. Beyond these and the blue of Mr. Tiger’s new shirt and the water of the fountain/waterfall, the palette is tightly controlled. And that doesn’t feel like anyone’s choice but Mr. Brown’s.
Another criticism I encountered came from someone who felt that the ending didn’t make sense to them. The animals all criticize Mr. Tiger then emulate him in his absence? But I have read and reread and reread again this book to my 2-year-old enough times that I know precisely how to answer such questions. Look closely and you’ll see that while some animals are very vocal in their disapproval of Mr. Tiger’s free-to-be-you-and-me ways, others are less perturbed. For example, in one scene Mr. Tiger is leaping from rooftop to rooftop. As he does so a bevy of onlookers comment on his actions. True, a bear shakes his fist and declares the tiger to be “Unacceptable” but look at the rhino and bunny. One is saying “Wow” and one “Hmm.” Then there’s the nude sequence (perhaps the only picture book centerfold shot in the history of the genre). First off, the pigeons are riveted. I loved that. And yes, a bunch of animals are pointing out of town, indicating that he should leave. But there’s a young fox that is absolutely enthralled by his actions, you can tell. It’s clear he has a far-reaching influence. I wasn’t surprised at all by the changes in his absence then.
Every child is a battlefield. In them rage twin desires, compelling in different ways and at different times. One desire is for the wildness Mr. Tiger craves. To run and yell and just go a little wild. The other desire is for order and organization and civilization. What Mr. Tiger Goes Wild does so well is to tap into these twin needs, and then produce a kind of happy medium between them. To entirely deny one side or another (or to entirely indulge one side or another) is an unhealthy exercise. We’ve not many books that touch on the importance of balance in your life, but let me just say that the lesson Mr. Tiger learns here would probably be greatly appreciated by large swaths of the adult population. Kiddos aren’t the only ones that chafe under their proverbial starched collars. A grand, great book with a lot of very smart things to say. Listen up.
For ages 2-7.
No one expected Mr. Tiger to be such a troublemaker. At first he was like everyone else. Sporting starched collars and silk top hats. Attending dignified tea parties and engaging in the usual chitchat about the weather that day. But Mr. Tiger is bored. “He wanted to loosen up. He wanted to have fun. He wanted to be… wild.” But wildness is not tolerated in the city, a fact Mr. Tiger discovers when his explorations into wildness involve pouncing across the rooftops, roaring in public, and going au naturel. It’s that final sin that has him dismissed from the city to the wilderness, where he gets to completely let go. It’s great for a time, but soon Mr. Tiger misses his friends and his home. When he returns he finds more comfortable clothes and the fact that the people there have loosened up a bit themselves, thanks in no small part to his influence.
Now I know there are folks out there for whom The Curious Garden is the top of the pops and Brown will never be able to make anything that good again. And that was a very nice book, no question but here is a book where Brown has hit his stride. First off, he has tackled the old anthropomorphic animal question; If you put a tiger in a suit, is he even a tiger anymore? Kids are very used to seeing animals wearing clothes and fulfilling human roles. I’ve always said that if you ever want to write a book about adults for kids, all you need to do is turn those adults into furry woodland creatures (hey, it worked for Redwall!). The idea that an animal might want to return to its wilder roots is a novel one for them. Imagine if Donald Duck tore off his sailor suit to peck at bread on the water, or Mickey Mouse removed those red shorts and started hunting down some cheese rinds. It’s almost, but not quite, obscene. Brown taps into that seeming obscenity, and uses it to give kids a mighty original tale.
2013 was a very good year for picture books with wordless two-page spreads. When used incorrectly, such spreads stop the action dead. Used correctly, they make the child reader stop and think. In a particularly Miss Rumphius-ish two-pager, Mr. Tiger walks alone in a wide-open field. He isn’t prancing or running or leaping anymore. His expression is utterly neutral. It’s just him and the flowers and the scrub bushes. Little wonder that when you turn the page he’s lonely once more. Brown uses this spread to bridge the gap between Mr. Tiger’s catharsis and his desire for company. Without it, the sudden shift in mood would feel out-of-character.
It’s hard to find folks who dislike this book but occasionally one comes out. The only real criticism I’ve seen of it was when I heard someone complain that Brown’s style is just like a lot of books coming out these days, particularly those of Jon Klassen. Hardly fair, though you can see what they mean when you hold this up next to This Is Not My Hat. But Brown is quite capable of manipulating his own style when he sees fit. Compare this book to others he’s made and you’ll see the difference. The noir feel of Creepy Carrots or the folksy faux wood border of Children Make Terrible Pets are a far cry from Mr. Tiger’s Rousseau-like setting. Brown has culled his influences over the years, and in this particular book he flattens the images purposefully, emulating the backgrounds of 1960s Disney films like Sleeping Beauty. The colors here are particularly deliberate. There’s the orange of Mr. Tiger (and his speech balloons), the green of the wilderness, and the orange of the sun. Beyond these and the blue of Mr. Tiger’s new shirt and the water of the fountain/waterfall, the palette is tightly controlled. And that doesn’t feel like anyone’s choice but Mr. Brown’s.
Another criticism I encountered came from someone who felt that the ending didn’t make sense to them. The animals all criticize Mr. Tiger then emulate him in his absence? But I have read and reread and reread again this book to my 2-year-old enough times that I know precisely how to answer such questions. Look closely and you’ll see that while some animals are very vocal in their disapproval of Mr. Tiger’s free-to-be-you-and-me ways, others are less perturbed. For example, in one scene Mr. Tiger is leaping from rooftop to rooftop. As he does so a bevy of onlookers comment on his actions. True, a bear shakes his fist and declares the tiger to be “Unacceptable” but look at the rhino and bunny. One is saying “Wow” and one “Hmm.” Then there’s the nude sequence (perhaps the only picture book centerfold shot in the history of the genre). First off, the pigeons are riveted. I loved that. And yes, a bunch of animals are pointing out of town, indicating that he should leave. But there’s a young fox that is absolutely enthralled by his actions, you can tell. It’s clear he has a far-reaching influence. I wasn’t surprised at all by the changes in his absence then.
Every child is a battlefield. In them rage twin desires, compelling in different ways and at different times. One desire is for the wildness Mr. Tiger craves. To run and yell and just go a little wild. The other desire is for order and organization and civilization. What Mr. Tiger Goes Wild does so well is to tap into these twin needs, and then produce a kind of happy medium between them. To entirely deny one side or another (or to entirely indulge one side or another) is an unhealthy exercise. We’ve not many books that touch on the importance of balance in your life, but let me just say that the lesson Mr. Tiger learns here would probably be greatly appreciated by large swaths of the adult population. Kiddos aren’t the only ones that chafe under their proverbial starched collars. A grand, great book with a lot of very smart things to say. Listen up.
For ages 2-7.
January 16, 2024
Who would be the worst person to give this book to? A friend whose kids already like to run around naked and howling. Am I going to do it? Absolutely. She can hate me and love me for it at the same time.
Mr Tiger Goes Wild is a flipping fantastic picture book about a tiger who is so very tired of being polite. The art is colorful and has retro vibes in the vein of Roger Duvoisin and Leo Lionni, but the story of allowing yourself to go a little wild is thoroughly contemporary. The sly visual humor had me laughing uproariously with every increment of Mr Tiger's transformation.
It's rare that I buy a picture book on the spot. This copy's for my friend (I'm fully expecting photos of ensuing shenanigans), and mine is on order.
Mr Tiger Goes Wild is a flipping fantastic picture book about a tiger who is so very tired of being polite. The art is colorful and has retro vibes in the vein of Roger Duvoisin and Leo Lionni, but the story of allowing yourself to go a little wild is thoroughly contemporary. The sly visual humor had me laughing uproariously with every increment of Mr Tiger's transformation.
It's rare that I buy a picture book on the spot. This copy's for my friend (I'm fully expecting photos of ensuing shenanigans), and mine is on order.
November 19, 2018
Maybe I am being just a trifle, just a bit too literal this morning, but with Peter Brown's Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, I do indeed tend to have a few rather annoying thematic and textual issues with especially the last part of the story (namely that if Mr. Tiger really and truly does in fact go wild so to speak, if he for certain has reverted back to being how tigers actually exist and act in nature, he would of course and naturally not be friends and companions with the other animals depicted and presented in Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, but would bien sûr be a predator stalking, killing and yes also consuming, eating them).
And while I have definitely found the accompanying illustrations colourful, fun and engaging and can even very much appreciate the featured included messages and lessons regarding being free to be oneself, being willing to embrace change (and in fact to also be willing and able to lead the way towards the latter, as it is Mr. Tiger who first and bravely decides to embrace his nature, to go wild, even though he later also does realise that he is not an island and still requires and needs his friends and companions), I am personally and logistically just not all that happy and comfortable with author/illustrator Peter Brown having chosen a tiger as the main protagonist of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild (as I am sorry to say, literal-minded I indeed just finds it more than a bit strange and biologically problematic to see and read about Peter Brown's tiger romping and cavorting, being best friends with animals that would in nature usually be considered tiger prey).
And while I have definitely found the accompanying illustrations colourful, fun and engaging and can even very much appreciate the featured included messages and lessons regarding being free to be oneself, being willing to embrace change (and in fact to also be willing and able to lead the way towards the latter, as it is Mr. Tiger who first and bravely decides to embrace his nature, to go wild, even though he later also does realise that he is not an island and still requires and needs his friends and companions), I am personally and logistically just not all that happy and comfortable with author/illustrator Peter Brown having chosen a tiger as the main protagonist of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild (as I am sorry to say, literal-minded I indeed just finds it more than a bit strange and biologically problematic to see and read about Peter Brown's tiger romping and cavorting, being best friends with animals that would in nature usually be considered tiger prey).
July 21, 2020
Mr. Tiger tires of the repressive society in which he lives and decides to go wild.
Mr. Tiger wears a suit and top hat and lives in a pseudo-Victorian city until he finally can no longer stand the oppression and goes wild. It is a cute and simple story.
The illustrator makes a marvelous use of color. In the city, everything is sepia-toned except for Mr. Tiger's orange. Even his dialogue boxes are orange, and everything in the wilderness is brightly colored.
Unfortunately, I read this with my toddler on a day that she was supposed to be good and pose nicely for Christmas pictures, and as she ran around and refused to pose or smile, she kept repeating "Mr. Tiger goes wild!" Let that be a lesson in the dangers of literature.
Mr. Tiger wears a suit and top hat and lives in a pseudo-Victorian city until he finally can no longer stand the oppression and goes wild. It is a cute and simple story.
The illustrator makes a marvelous use of color. In the city, everything is sepia-toned except for Mr. Tiger's orange. Even his dialogue boxes are orange, and everything in the wilderness is brightly colored.
Unfortunately, I read this with my toddler on a day that she was supposed to be good and pose nicely for Christmas pictures, and as she ran around and refused to pose or smile, she kept repeating "Mr. Tiger goes wild!" Let that be a lesson in the dangers of literature.
October 3, 2015
Rating, 3.5
Nice short story along the lines of "be who you are". Mr. Tiger feels suffocated by the stiff society, and decides to shake things up. Probably fun for kids. Not bad, not great.... we just didn't click. I don't think is the book ... it must be me.
Nice short story along the lines of "be who you are". Mr. Tiger feels suffocated by the stiff society, and decides to shake things up. Probably fun for kids. Not bad, not great.... we just didn't click. I don't think is the book ... it must be me.
September 15, 2013
I am so in love with this book right now. Not only does it espouse the wonderful messages of following one's bliss and trusting one's instincts (lessons I apparently had to re-learn recently) but the fabulous art totally transports me back to the '60s of my youth. Good life lessons + nostalgia...what more could one ask for?
September 5, 2013
Lush, intricate illustrations. You've got to love a tiger in a stovepipe hat.
June 1, 2017
Checked it out from the library and already read to my daughters twice!
May 11, 2019
Mr. Tiger begins to find the restrictions of polite society rather tiresome in this entertaining picture-book from Peter Brown, eventually going a little bit too wild to stay in the big city with all of his friends. Although his sojourn in the wild is liberating, eventually he finds the solitude too much to bear, returning to the city. Once there he sees signs of change: elements of the wild have begun to encroach on urban life...
As a companion to Brown's The Curious Garden , which looks at the creation of a marvelous green garden-city, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild has immense appeal, emphasizing the need for a more natural and less restrictive society, one in which animals (and people!) can be themselves. Read this way, I found it immensely appealing, enjoying both the story and the beautiful artwork, created using multiple media, from pencil to gouache. That said, an alternative reading, one with which I am far less comfortable, suggests the idea that in order to find self-fulfillment one must set aside all of society's restrictions. As always, I am leery of the ways we tie self-indulgence to self-fulfillment in our current society, and depict any form of restriction as a form of stifling of creativity and individuality. As someone decidedly not on board with the idea that we should be allowed to do whatever we want, regardless of the consequences - some restrictions are a good thing, in order to protect the welfare and rights of all! - I am always mindful of the ways in which children's books address issues of creativity and conformity, and the balance between individual rights and responsibilities. I am not sure that Brown's tale really crosses that line, between championing the individual's right to dissent from the group, and depicting all social restrictions as unjust and unjustified, but the issue was at the back of my mind as I read, and one I continue to ponder.
As a companion to Brown's The Curious Garden , which looks at the creation of a marvelous green garden-city, Mr. Tiger Goes Wild has immense appeal, emphasizing the need for a more natural and less restrictive society, one in which animals (and people!) can be themselves. Read this way, I found it immensely appealing, enjoying both the story and the beautiful artwork, created using multiple media, from pencil to gouache. That said, an alternative reading, one with which I am far less comfortable, suggests the idea that in order to find self-fulfillment one must set aside all of society's restrictions. As always, I am leery of the ways we tie self-indulgence to self-fulfillment in our current society, and depict any form of restriction as a form of stifling of creativity and individuality. As someone decidedly not on board with the idea that we should be allowed to do whatever we want, regardless of the consequences - some restrictions are a good thing, in order to protect the welfare and rights of all! - I am always mindful of the ways in which children's books address issues of creativity and conformity, and the balance between individual rights and responsibilities. I am not sure that Brown's tale really crosses that line, between championing the individual's right to dissent from the group, and depicting all social restrictions as unjust and unjustified, but the issue was at the back of my mind as I read, and one I continue to ponder.
August 27, 2013
Mr. Tiger lives in town where everything is very proper. But, sometimes he feels like letting loose. One day he decides to get down on all fours to walk around. That felt so good that he started to ROAR. Then, that felt so good that he takes off all of his clothes.
The other animals in town don't approve of his behavior AT ALL. They tell him if he is going to act wild then to take it to the wilderness. Mr. Tiger thinks that's a great idea. At first he is thrilled to run around free, but soon he gets very lonely and decides to go back home.
What he finds when he gets there is very surprising. It seems like the others have loosened up a little since he's been gone and he can feel free to be a little wild and still live in town.
I LOVE Peter Brown and this book is no exception. It is a great picture book if you want to talk about balance and "too much of a good thing."
The other animals in town don't approve of his behavior AT ALL. They tell him if he is going to act wild then to take it to the wilderness. Mr. Tiger thinks that's a great idea. At first he is thrilled to run around free, but soon he gets very lonely and decides to go back home.
What he finds when he gets there is very surprising. It seems like the others have loosened up a little since he's been gone and he can feel free to be a little wild and still live in town.
I LOVE Peter Brown and this book is no exception. It is a great picture book if you want to talk about balance and "too much of a good thing."
July 16, 2014
In a Richard Scarry sort of world all the different animals dress like people and live in houses and walk bipedally and work at jobs. And then Mr. Tiger decides to go wild, just a tiny bit. Brown's palette reminds me of picture books from the seventies, in a very good way, lots of orange and avocado. There was no way I couldn't love it.
Library copy
Library copy
September 19, 2013
I normally don't review picture books but this one is your life coach and
spiritual manifesto.
Don't forget to look at the cover under the jacket, this book has got the fly details!
spiritual manifesto.
Don't forget to look at the cover under the jacket, this book has got the fly details!
Read
January 9, 2016Storytime! Madison, AL
September 13, 2018
Brilliant!
November 3, 2024
Süß und verständlich: eintöniges Stadtleben wird mit Kontrastprogramm getauscht.
Die Lösung ist sehr gut gelungen, mir gefielen die schlicht wirkenden Zeichnungen sehr.
Dem kleinen Menschen gefiel es auch 😁
Die Lösung ist sehr gut gelungen, mir gefielen die schlicht wirkenden Zeichnungen sehr.
Dem kleinen Menschen gefiel es auch 😁
June 27, 2018
چه قدر می شود بعد از خواندنش با بچّه حرف زد!
اهلی کیست و وحشی کدام است؟
و چه ها که بر طبیعت نرفته است...
اهلی کیست و وحشی کدام است؟
و چه ها که بر طبیعت نرفته است...
Read
January 17, 2024Meneer Tijger wordt wild (Gottmer 4+, vertaling: Edward van de Vendel), het grafische prentenboek van Peter Brown over de aangeklede Meneer Tijger die ontdekt hoe het is om een wilde tijger te zijn, maakte grote indruk op illustrator Martijn van der Linden. Waarom Martijn van der Linden het zo mooi vindt, hoor je in de 16e aflevering van De Grote Vriendelijke Podcast. Luister nu via Spotify, je podcastapp of https://degrotevriendelijkepodcast.nl...
December 27, 2014
This is a lovely book--Caldecott worthy in my opinion in terms of its art work.
Of course, what do I know, I've only been in this line of work for about 30 years, and I'm not a hipster librarian who goes to "Kid Lit Drink Nights"
The limited color palette--which embodies the "proper" feel at the opening of the book makes Tiger's bright orange face (and later his full tiger body) pop on the page. It's skilled technique. But much as I love the art, I am not sure though that the layout, with several panels on many of the pages, will make this work well in a group setting, or that this will appeal to younger children. I don't think I'd use this in my 3-6 year old story time, and I certainly wouldn't use it with my 2 and up crowd!
And why on earth a certain big name children's librarian (chirp, chirp) would read this to her own two year old is beyond me. But as I said, I've ONLY been doing this for 30 years and raised 2 daughters of my own. And what would I know--I HATE I Want My Hat Back
But as the immortal Maurice Sendak said (and I cheered when I saw him say that in an interview) "Not every book is right for every child." Why does this HAVE to be good for the under 3 set? With its "be yourself" message (a logical ending line and not "Berenstain Bear" preachlike at all) this would be a great book to use in a classroom with older preschoolers or kindergarteners. They will GET this book and enjoy it--and it would be the jumping off point for a discussion. In fact, I am going to give it to a lady who just asked me for some books on "diversity" for a school aged group and think her kids will really enjoy it.
Of course, what do I know, I've only been in this line of work for about 30 years, and I'm not a hipster librarian who goes to "Kid Lit Drink Nights"
The limited color palette--which embodies the "proper" feel at the opening of the book makes Tiger's bright orange face (and later his full tiger body) pop on the page. It's skilled technique. But much as I love the art, I am not sure though that the layout, with several panels on many of the pages, will make this work well in a group setting, or that this will appeal to younger children. I don't think I'd use this in my 3-6 year old story time, and I certainly wouldn't use it with my 2 and up crowd!
And why on earth a certain big name children's librarian (chirp, chirp) would read this to her own two year old is beyond me. But as I said, I've ONLY been doing this for 30 years and raised 2 daughters of my own. And what would I know--I HATE I Want My Hat Back
But as the immortal Maurice Sendak said (and I cheered when I saw him say that in an interview) "Not every book is right for every child." Why does this HAVE to be good for the under 3 set? With its "be yourself" message (a logical ending line and not "Berenstain Bear" preachlike at all) this would be a great book to use in a classroom with older preschoolers or kindergarteners. They will GET this book and enjoy it--and it would be the jumping off point for a discussion. In fact, I am going to give it to a lady who just asked me for some books on "diversity" for a school aged group and think her kids will really enjoy it.
September 5, 2018
I love it. The illustrations especially! What a great use of color. And that's the cutest tiger, even when he's wild. I think this is a great choice for preschool storytime.
1/8/14: Used in Topsy-Turvy theme. They loved it! We all enjoyed the laugh at the idea of him swimming in the fountain AND taking off his clothes (gasp!) even though they knew that was normal for a tiger. Hilarious and amazing how easily they picked up on the animals acting like humans and noticing ANYTHING that was different. ("He looks like a cat when he does that!") Such fun.
3/23/16 Used in J is for theme (because tigers live in the jungle). I told them it was a silly book. I over-exaggerated some stuff so they could see the outrageous silliness--like when he came out of the fountain with NO CLOTHES ON! One girl said, "But that's now tigers normally are," yet a page or two later was exclaiming in shock, "He can't go in the wilderness with NO CLOTHES ON!" It was so fabulously cute. Everyone liked the story.
3/22/18 Read this via Marco Polo for Daddy Night. SD said she really liked it.
9/5/18 Closer in Lions, Tigers and Bears theme. Kids were really still throughout, wondering what to think. But the little boy laughed hysterically when I made a big deal about Tiger being on all fours and then with no clothes. At the end, he agreed it was a silly book.
1/8/14: Used in Topsy-Turvy theme. They loved it! We all enjoyed the laugh at the idea of him swimming in the fountain AND taking off his clothes (gasp!) even though they knew that was normal for a tiger. Hilarious and amazing how easily they picked up on the animals acting like humans and noticing ANYTHING that was different. ("He looks like a cat when he does that!") Such fun.
3/23/16 Used in J is for theme (because tigers live in the jungle). I told them it was a silly book. I over-exaggerated some stuff so they could see the outrageous silliness--like when he came out of the fountain with NO CLOTHES ON! One girl said, "But that's now tigers normally are," yet a page or two later was exclaiming in shock, "He can't go in the wilderness with NO CLOTHES ON!" It was so fabulously cute. Everyone liked the story.
3/22/18 Read this via Marco Polo for Daddy Night. SD said she really liked it.
9/5/18 Closer in Lions, Tigers and Bears theme. Kids were really still throughout, wondering what to think. But the little boy laughed hysterically when I made a big deal about Tiger being on all fours and then with no clothes. At the end, he agreed it was a silly book.
October 21, 2013
"Mr. Tiger was bored with with always being so proper." First he walks on all fours. He acts wilder and wilder until he goes too far. When he doesn't wear clothes his friends ask him to leave. He goes completely wild, but realizes he misses his friends. He returns to find things are changing in the city. Nice artwork, with gradual introduction of color.
I'm going to have to round this up. As Anina says look under the plastic book cover.
I'm going to have to round this up. As Anina says look under the plastic book cover.
August 26, 2016
The pictures are nice, and the story is fine for a while. I'm concerned by the last quarter or so. It seems that the point is for the animals to be OK with going back to nature - they aren't all hung up with manners and clothes, but if Mr. Tiger is "free to be himself" then he'll be killing all those other animals instead of cavorting with them. It just rings false - this is simply another (more politically correct) fiction instead of the truth.
September 24, 2013
This is one of those books that everyone loves that I think is just "okay". So then I worry that I didn't read it closely enough, didn't appreciate it enough, or something. The illustrations are fun, but the story just didn't do anything for me.
November 26, 2013
I like the artwork very much, very attractive, though I think kids like brighter work with more bold poster colors… I dunno. This art appeals to me more as an adult. But the story was almost completely unsurprising to me, just okay.
July 6, 2013
Caldcott contender?
December 20, 2024
This would be a fun read aloud for the end of the school year/ start of summer break. You could talk about how student behavior at school differs from summer behavior at home or on vacation.
March 27, 2021
Good book
July 12, 2017
Peter Brown (The Wild Robot) has a problem with humans. In this picture book, animals wear drab suits and walk around on two legs. They live in a bland city like Victorian England if the Victorians were anthropomorphic rhinos. The animals are all beige and gray -- hippos, foxes, rabbits, monkeys, pigeons. (The pigeons don't wear clothes. They're animals who are still acting and treated as animals.) It's dullsville.
Then there's Mr. Tiger. A splash of bright orange shines out of his bland suit. His dialog bubbles also have an orange gleam.
One day Mr. Tiger decides he's tired of civilization. He walks on all fours, and all the other animals clutch their pearls. They're aghast when Mr. Tiger sheds his suit and wanders around with all his furry spots exposed. To be that wild, they tell him, he needs to be in the wilderness.
The wilderness is fun at first, but it's oddly devoid of life and Mr. Tiger gets lonely. He returns to the city, where everyone learns they can compromise. They still wear clothes, but they wear whatever they want.
It's a cute story with fun artwork and commentary on human behavior, as only animals can deliver.
Then there's Mr. Tiger. A splash of bright orange shines out of his bland suit. His dialog bubbles also have an orange gleam.
One day Mr. Tiger decides he's tired of civilization. He walks on all fours, and all the other animals clutch their pearls. They're aghast when Mr. Tiger sheds his suit and wanders around with all his furry spots exposed. To be that wild, they tell him, he needs to be in the wilderness.
The wilderness is fun at first, but it's oddly devoid of life and Mr. Tiger gets lonely. He returns to the city, where everyone learns they can compromise. They still wear clothes, but they wear whatever they want.
It's a cute story with fun artwork and commentary on human behavior, as only animals can deliver.
November 9, 2022
Even picture books need a sturdy narrative arc. This story feels as though it's missing a step. Mr Tiger is banished to the wilds for his behaviour. When he eventually decides to return to this Victorian-esque city, all the other animals have gone wild too. Great - why? What happened to change their minds? Am I missing a few pages? One thing doesn't naturally follow the other and this makes for a weak story.
I would like to have seen more made of the colour scheme. As the city is drab, with its tightly laced occupants shown in dull browns, the wilds ought to have been vibrant, bursting with colour. A little more is added, in some greens and blues, but not enough to make a real impact. The jungle looks almost as dark and dreary as the city.
It is well printed on thick paper that feels like great quality. This paper is matte so might not wipe clean as well as glossy-paged picture books but it is certainly aesthetically appealing.
There's power, especially for children, in being told that it's ok to let loose sometimes. It's a shame that Mr. Tiger Goes Wild doesn't quite hit the mark.
I would like to have seen more made of the colour scheme. As the city is drab, with its tightly laced occupants shown in dull browns, the wilds ought to have been vibrant, bursting with colour. A little more is added, in some greens and blues, but not enough to make a real impact. The jungle looks almost as dark and dreary as the city.
It is well printed on thick paper that feels like great quality. This paper is matte so might not wipe clean as well as glossy-paged picture books but it is certainly aesthetically appealing.
There's power, especially for children, in being told that it's ok to let loose sometimes. It's a shame that Mr. Tiger Goes Wild doesn't quite hit the mark.
April 4, 2019
Mr. Tiger is discontent with his proper life. When he decides to take a walk on the wild side, the society he's used to doesn't agree. Mr. Tiger decides to take his wild side into the wilderness, but he soon finds that he's very lonely. Can Mr. Tiger be himself and still live in his house and be with his friends?
This is a cute story. The pictures are fabulous, and it's short enough that it could be used in storytime or at bedtime even with young listeners. A great story about learning to be yourself and influencing others to do the same.
This is a cute story. The pictures are fabulous, and it's short enough that it could be used in storytime or at bedtime even with young listeners. A great story about learning to be yourself and influencing others to do the same.
December 1, 2019
Does a great job of incorporating suspense in such a short story. I was genuinely curious to see what would happen, and I loved that Mr. Tiger's struggle for self-expression wasn't easily solved. His first attempt to feel free fails; he learns instead to balance independence with community, and I thought that was a very thoughtful ending.
The artwork is fantastic and tells a story that goes beyond the text. Really lovely message, language, and pictures—everything a quality children's book needs. Highly recommended.
The artwork is fantastic and tells a story that goes beyond the text. Really lovely message, language, and pictures—everything a quality children's book needs. Highly recommended.
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