The Tiptoeing Tiger

Little Tiger bets that he is every bit as "sleek, silent, and totally terrifying" as his skeptical and intimidating older brother. But whenever the cub sneaks up on other jungle inhabitants and lets out a roar, the results are less than stellar. Boar hears him coming a mile away. "Was that meant to scare us?" ask the monkeys, laughing at his diminutive howl. Then Little Tiger spots his own roaring reflection in a pond, and decides that he is plenty scary--after all, he scares himself. Competency and mastery can be high-stakes topics in picture books, and Leathers's low-key approach is refreshing. Her digitally assembled pencil-and-watercolor images are vividly populated and dashed with whimsy: each of the sneaking-up scenes shows Little Tiger in multiple exposures, playfully drawing out his attempts at stealth as he tiptoes toward his next unsuspecting "victim." What's especially nice is how Little Tiger accepts the realization that he's scared of his own reflection with good humor and even pride: it's not often that a hero of his ilk achieves such a level of self-awareness. Ages 3-7. (Feb.)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Toddler-PreS--Everyone knows that tigers are sleek, silent, and totally terrifying. Unfortunately, Little Tiger is not. When his older brother says he's "too small and clumsy to scare anyone," Little Tiger sets out to prove him wrong. Tiptoeing as silently as he can, Little Tiger attempts scare a boar, an elephant, and some monkeys. They are all completely unafraid, much to Little Tiger's chagrin. When he spots a tiny, jumpy frog in a pond, he is glad to finally find something he knows he can scare. He tiptoes extra quietly up to the water's edge, looks over and ROAR! Finally Little Tiger succeeds in scaring someone--himself. Leathers's pencil and watercolor illustrations are a perfect combination of uncluttered detail, great expressions, muted colors, and adorableness. They complement the fun-to-read text in the best possible way. VERDICT Kids will immediately connect with Little Tiger whose plight and cuteness cannot be denied. A good choice for storytimes or individual sharing and a first purchase for most libraries.--Catherine Callegari, Reston Regional Library, VA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Leathers' watercolors are clean and sweet, create a delicate forest setting, and keep the "terrifying" to readers' imaginations. Nicely paced, comfortably told, and not altogether predictable: a winner.
—Kirkus Reviews

The appealing artwork, watercolor and pencil with digital elements, suggests the setting simply, while letting viewers concentrate on the interactions between Little Tiger and the other characters. Whether shared with an individual child or a story-hour group, this amusing picture book has an engaging hero whose dilemma will resonate with young children.
—Booklist

Competency and mastery can be high-stakes topics in picture books, and Leathers's low-key approach is refreshing. Her digitally assembled pencil-and-watercolor images are vividly populated and dashed with whimsy.
—Publishers Weekly

Leathers's pencil and watercolor illustrations are a perfect combination of uncluttered detail, great expressions, muted colors, and adorableness. They complement the fun-to-read text in the best possible way. Kids will immediately connect with Little Tiger whose plight and cuteness cannot be denied. A good choice for storytimes or individual sharing and a first purchase for most libraries.
—School Library Journal

...[A] charmingly understated tale of failed ferocity... The little tiger's good humor and Ms. Leathers's comically suspenseful text make this storybook ideal for repeated reading aloud.
—The Wall Street Journal