Little Tiger ISBN 9781788815765 £11.99
The cover of this book shows Grumble-Stick, Grumble-Rope and Grumble-Mud, who are assertive and confrontational. They bicker, until the peace of the village is disrupted by the arrival of the hungry Gobblestomp. The Grumblies unite to combat their ferocious opponent. The alliance works, and their solution involves a combination of each of the Grumblies’ preferred elements – stick, rope and mud. Once defeated, the Grumblies change their perception of the Gobblestop who, in turn, responds to their new attitude and offers to help them with their BIG plans for the village. The book is a good romp. The characters have attractive expressions. I particularly like the Gobblestop’s delight when he sees the squidgy-fruits, his panic as he falls into to the trap, and his pathetic face when he is caught. The artwork is bold and bright, and the text shows up clearly against the background colours. The overall design is effective. Some are full page spreads but other variations are employed which move us through the story. Great for sharing in home or school, this is a book young children aged 3+ will enjoy, with important messages about attitudes, division and teamwork.
Brenda Marshall
