WHEN A TIGER COMES TO DINNER

What do tigers like to do at dinner parties?

A cautious mouse is getting ready to entertain a tiger and thinks that the key to its success is in a book entitled: How to Impress a Tiger. The mouse feels quite prepared, in spite of some early nervousness, and it puts a record on the turntable (wait—have young readers seen this device before?), mixes punch, and festoons its home with party decorations. When the tiger enters, the mouse roars, thinking “ ‘Rooooaaaarrrr!’ means ‘hello,’ ” and does as the book suggests: “When you say ‘Hello,’ put your hands up like claws and show your teeth. That is the polite greeting.” Unfortunately, the friendly tiger at the door is quite scared and screams in large letters: “AHHHHHHH!” She’s ready to turn tail, but the mouse immediately works to save the situation, consulting the manual once again and finding that now, somehow, the advice is just the opposite. The diligent host has been correct about the peanut-butter sandwiches but soon learns as well that greeting the tiger nicely and giving her the chance to play checkers and wear a polka-dot party hat will make her your friend for life. Heavy black outlines and flat blocks of color show off the mouse’s cozy home to advantage in what look like digital illustrations. The book’s tongue-in-cheek premise provides read-aloud fun and opportunities for some good roars.

An optional purchase that can be used effectively in groups in schools or libraries.