BookDragon Books for the Diverse Reader

Is is already time to start thinking about the new year? Come 2010, we’ll all be celebrating the year of my son … I mean, the Year of the Tiger … with the fifth title in Oliver Chin‘s Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series (which include The Year of the Rat for 2008 and The Year of the Dog for 2006).

Those born in the Year of the Tiger (1914,1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022) “… are bold and proud. These warm souls are courageous and charismatic. But sometimes they reveal different stripes when they are rash and unpredictable. Though they may seem secretive and catty, tigers prove to be the fiercest of friends.”

In Chin’s latest annual romp, Teddy, a Tiger cub prince, and Su, a young human girl, become fast friends, even though their human and animal worlds don’t exactly interact. “‘We’ve heard of dangerous animals called ‘humans.’ Their houses and roads invade our land, so stay away from them,'” Teddy’s father the Tiger King warns. “‘Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry!'” Su’s father admonishes his curious daughter.

But Tigers, both animal and human, are “the fiercest of friends” after all, and Teddy and Su make sure everyone plays together and plays nicely: “… the adults were amazed how well everybody got along. ‘Good manners make good neighbors,’ they all agreed.”

Now if only world peace were that easy …!

Readers: Children

Published: 2009