SYNOPSIS:
Lee is a tiny tiger who lives with his Mum in the safety of his treetop house. There he feels safe from the dangers of the dark jungle below.
But one wild stormy night, Lee and his Mum are thrown to the ground and Lee is forced to face his fears in order to help her.
A Tiger named Lee tells the story of a timid little tiger who refuses to leave his tree-top perch and go down to the jungle floor for fear of what may lie there. However, he and his Mum are thrown from the tree on a stormy night and the little tiger has to overcome his fears.
MY THOUGHTS:
This gorgeous picture book grabbed my attention straight away with its title and cute illustrations.
Lee is a tiger cub who doesn't want to run around and play roughly with his older brothers. He wants to stay in the comfort and safe arms of his mother, high up in a tree. For there are many dangers below including the many animals who share the jungle. But one day he is forced to leave his home as the storms bring with them high winds and thunder and lightning. Lee finds himself on the forest floor with an injured mum and needs to reach out to the other animals for help.
This book was such a delight to read and my Key Stage One class were mesmerized by the illustrations and story. There was a lot of tension as the storm arrived and many whispered predictions about what the outcome might be. They were surprised and thrilled to know that the other animals were very forthright in their actions of help and not a threat to Lee but an ally.
The text added to the overall storyline by its bold font and mixture of capitals, to enhance and emphasise different words and phrases. The layout of the text was also varied and interesting making this a very visual reading experience. The striking illustration complimented the writing with its clever colour palette and use of lines.
The overall message being portrayed is definitely one that children and adults alike can relate to. Allowing plenty of discussion about the themes of fear, safety, trust, kindness, friendship and in challenging oneself. A perfect book for young children to enjoy and will remain one of our class' favourite books.
Many thanks to Love Books Tours for inviting me to join the book tour and to both Sinéad Murphy and Shannon Cresham in their collaboration, producing this cracker of a picture book.
Sinéad Murphy is an Irish author, television Director, and filmmaker. 'A Tiger named Lee' is Sinéad's debut picture book, published in 2021 by Tiny Tree Children's Books. Sinéad wrote ‘A Tiger Named Lee,’ for her young daughter to show her that it’s normal to have fears and worries and that help is always there if you ask for it.