LITTLE TIGERS

Pushed out of their current territory by human encroachment, a mother tiger and her offspring search for a new home.

The lightly anthropomorphized animals (they express emotions and have the power of speech but otherwise look and behave like real tigers) consider a number of options. Sera, the female cub, offers the first suggestion. Unfortunately, although the cave behind a waterfall is well hidden, it’s too wet. Puli is next to propose an idea, but the tall tree he has them climb is equally unsuitable: “it’s a very long way to fall for a tiger,” observes their mother. Two further possibilities are rejected before the family finds a spot that Mother Tiger deems just right. The conversational tone and familiarly patterned narrative contrast pleasantly with the tangled jungle setting. Weaver’s smudgy charcoal illustrations, digitally colored, are lovely and softly luminous. Warm shades of orange enhance the tigers’ shaggy coats; effective use of white space combined with hues that lean toward yellow and brown effectively evoke the landscape and other animals. The author’s focus on parent-child relationships, evident in her earlier books, Little Whale (2018) and Little One (2016), infuses this tale as well. The explicit focus on the threats created by human activities adds tension and drama. An author’s note includes information about Bengal tigers.

Perfectly paced, accessible, and appealing, this glimpse into a far-off habitat will entertain young listeners and, perhaps, awaken their empathy.