Author: Britta Teckentrup
Illustrator: Britta Teckentrup
Age Group: 0-5
Synopsis: A group of animals use their wits to avoid disturbing a sleeping tiger but when there’s a hiccup in their plans what will happen?
The Low Down
Interactive books are one of my weaknesses. I love anything that lures children into reading more. Bug just loves tigers at the moment. I rotate his toys out, otherwise we have way too many sitting around the house at any given time. In this last rotation his stuffed toy Hobbes (from the Calvin and Hobbes comics) was released from the toy chest. Since then everything has been about tigers. So it was remarkably serendipitous that we ran across Don’t Wake Up Tiger!
Throughout the story, the narrator invites the reader to participate in helping the animals avoid waking up tiger. The reader blows balloons out of the way, rubs tiger’s belly, sings a lullaby (we sang Twinkle Twinkle). I loved how the story addresses the reader directly. It thanks the reader and acknowledges their participation. It draws you in and makes you cheer for the animals as they succeed and gasp as they have close brushes with failure and it makes Bug want to read it again and again.
The illustrations are bright and intriguing and the animals are pretty darn cute but what makes this book too cool are the balloons. They’re shiny and glossy, completely different than the rest of the page. I couldn’t help but run my fingers over them and neither could Bug. It just continued to reinforce that this book for building readers. If your child doesn’t like to read then I’d read them Don’t Wake Up Tiger! a few times. Include them in the story, and you’ll find yourself a child who’s discovered the magic of the written word. If your child does like to read, then read them this book anyway. One more book that reminds children why they enjoy reading can never be a bad thing and Don’t Wake Up Tiger! could never be a bad thing.
Story Tips:
- This book practically begs for you and your little one to engage with it. Indulge it.
I need more!
I need more. I am constantly looking for good books in German and Britta Teckentrup has a ton. She has a ton in English too. Seriously the list is very long. The only one I recognized is called The Memory Tree which I haven’t completely read. It’s not because the illustrations are no good or the story stinks. It’s because I read the first page and knew I was going to cry and haven’t worked up the strength or want to try again. I’m very excited to check out Tree and many others. See a complete list at: http://www.brittateckentrup.com/buy.htm.
Add to my library:
UK Amazon:Don’t Wake Up Tiger!
US Amazon:Don’t Wake Up Tiger
