Picture book love is a series of short picture book reviews, spanning old favourites on high rotation in our house, to newer releases/future classics.
The Tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr (William Collins Sons & Co Ltd., 1968)
One day, young Sophie is visited by a tiger who eats and drinks everything in her house. Sophie and her parents are left with nothing, so head out to a cafรฉ for dinner. They buy groceries in case the tiger returns, โBut he never didโ. The tiger could be seen as threatening, however this is countered by his impeccable manners and affection with Sophie. Sophie appears a trusting character, implied by illustrations of her offering cakes to the tiger, and clutching a tin of tiger food anticipating his return. The imagination and innocence of childhood is portrayed in this timeless classic that remains in print almost fifty years after publication.
More: Judith Kerr and the story behind The tiger who came to tea