The Year of the Tiger: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac

A princely tiger ushers in the 2010 Chinese New Year.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—Young Prince Teddy, a royal tiger cub, is naturally curious, and his mother tells him that someday he’ll be king of the jungle. A wise ruler starts out as a careful prince, she advises. His father tells him to stay away from humans, which piques his interest in them. Setting out alone, he meets a young girl, Su, he sees near the edge of the forest. The two become fast friends despite their parents’ disapproval. Due to a series of adventures and mishaps, Teddy must save Su’s life just as both sets of parents arrive. The two families decide they can live in peace, ensuring that Good manners make good neighbors. A brief paragraph explains that people born in the Year of the Tiger are bold and proud and the fiercest of friends. Children will enjoy the bright-eyed characters and cartoon illustrations in this romp. Some of the figures seem to leap right out of a Cartoon Network production. The story tends to drag on a bit, but the point gets made that friendships come in all different species. The Chinese zodiac connection may get lost on young readers without discussion. Purchase where this series is already popular.—C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

,Children’s Fiction,Animals