The Terrible Tiger

by Jack Prelutsky, Arnold Lobel (Illustrator)

"Prelutsky's terrible tiger will be a source of merriment for children, as he carnivorously cavorts around the countryside, downing a grocer, baker, farmer, and--unfortunately for himself--a tailor. The resourceful tailor snips his way out of the tiger's belly, in the process freeing the other captives, then stitches the tiger up again with a mild reprimand for his rudeness".--School Library Journal.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1989

About the author

Jack Prelutsky is an American poet. He attended New York public schools, and later the High School of Music and Art and Hunter College. Prelutsky, who has also worked as a busboy, furniture mover, folk singer, and cab driver, claims that he hated poetry in grade school because of the way it was taught. He is the author of more than 30 poetry collections including Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep< and A Pizza the Size of the Sun. He has also compiled countless children's anthologies comprised of poems of others'. Jack Prelutsky was married to Von Tre Venefue, a woman he had met in France. They divorced in 1995, but Jack remarried. He currently lives in Washington state with his wife, Carolyn. He befriended a gay poet named Espiritu Salamanca in 1997 and both now work together in writing poems and stories for children and adults alike.

Reviews

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books when I was a child. So much so that my mum had to copy the poem out for me from a library book.

[Shayiri Kowlassur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever monkey

[Carfig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrible tiger keeps his word, and that is to swallow anything and anyone who he comes across. The tailor tries to warn him off, to no avail. What will the tailor do?

[Ange · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book as I have a penchant for rhyming, pacy stories. I found myself reading it out loud to myself. It really needs a child to read it to.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal response: This book is a great example of a narrative poem that follows the adventures of the "terrible" tiger. I love that the tiger is the only thing that is colored in the illustrations. The rhythm is also really intriguing and makes it a really fun read.

Purposes: This is a narrative book, so it would be kind of long for a one time read aloud. However, I could just pick out a few pages here and there to give my kids some examples of poetry. The story is fun and interesting, but also has great literary elements to it involving the style and structure of poetry. The illustrations would also provide a good discussion with my students. There are "hidden" little animals in the weeds and flowers on the page that they can search out. The tiger is the only character in color so I could ask my students why the author and illustrator decided to do that and what affect it has on the story.

[Peter Heinrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids loved this book for a while—I like to think it was my dramatic reading—and the rhythm of the meter makes it fun to read. Sadly, this one hasn't been a bedtime request since about age five.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't read this book until I was 25 and found that I still got enjoyment out of it, the song that the terrible tiger sings as he goes along made me smile. Definitely a book i will put aside for when i have children

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

My brother and I loved this picture book about a hungry tiger with a tuneful song, but it was too ghoulish for the nieces.

[Ralphcarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful fabulous book, beautifully illustrated.
a tale of reason v. power.
a lesson that no one is too old to learn

[Jonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rhyme of this book is very fun and very clever. I really enjoy reading it aloud to my kids.