A TIGER CALLED TOMÁS

The story of a shy child and a Halloween costume that helps him connect with new neighbors is reinterpreted again, 55 years after its original publication as A Tiger Called Thomas with illustrations by Kurt Werth.

Tomás stays on the stoop of his new home every day as potential friends pass by, convinced “that the new people might not like him.” The gnawing feeling that he won’t be embraced by the neighborhood worsens until Halloween, when he puts on a tiger costume and disguises himself to meet them all. Of course, the costume doesn’t do much to hide his identity; everyone knows it’s Tomás, to his surprise. But the interactions help him connect in ways he wouldn’t otherwise. The boy and his mother, who are bilingual and presumed Latinx, speak mostly in English with a little Spanish sprinkled in, a hint that a language or cultural barrier may be adding to his shyness. But the Spanish is light at best, mostly parroting English words; it’s not a convincing reason for Tomás’ isolation. Nevertheless, his story rings true, as it has in previous versions of the late author’s story. The illustrations, especially those of melancholy Tomás and his colorful costume, are warm without being cloying, particularly the first time readers see him smile (which happens to be on the last page).

A must-read for introverted kids, it’s a worthy update to the 1963 original.