The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower

by Lee Gee Eun

The #1 bestselling picture book in Korea . . . a laugh-out-loud blend of joyous comics and lush full spread illustrations!

Tiger is a bit grumpy. Why won’t the other forest animals give him food…even when he yells at them? Why doesn’t anyone want to be his friend?

Then a talking Dandelion shoots down from space and attaches permanently to his tail. (Don't ask how). *shake shake shake* Why won’t Tail-Flower come off?! Why does everyone in the forest seem to like her better?

Stuck with each other, and against all odds, Tiger and Tail-Flower become fast friends and set off on a series of adventures. Rescuing Mother Hen and her lost egg from a cliff. Fording a river for Rabbit, Hedgehog, and Raccoon. Throwing a big party with everyone in the forest!

Tiger and Tail-Flower even grow old together. And though they don't realize it, one day their last adventure arrives. When they decide to travel through the forest and climb the big mountain in the sky, a hunter’s net snares them deep in the forest. But Tail-Flower gets an idea, and with a twinkle in her eye, she asks:

“Tiger, we’ll always be best friends, right?”

Lee Gee Eun is the most beloved picture book artist working in Korea today. The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower is her magnum opus: a ridiculously exuberant picture book—with a surprisingly moving ending—that spans 80 pages of breathtaking comics and full spread illustrations. Readers young and old will delight in and become fast friends with the legend of this irrepressible pair.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Graphic Novels, Animals, Asian Literature, Fiction, Manga

Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2021

Reviews

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see why this was a best-seller in Korea. It's whimsical, quirky, and the art is very appealing.

A great book to gift young readers or to read aloud to pre-schoolers. The acid test will be when I give this to my 7-year old grandkids and see their reactions. I expect they will enjoy it.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

choupi et beau et plein d'émotions

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorei! Ilustração lindas e muito suaves. Uma história com carinha de fábula clássica.

[Victor Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'était sympa, j'ai pleuré.

[Clara Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilustração deliciosa e história mt fofa!!! Altas emoções (duas emoções)

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this one the benefit of the doubt and scoring higher. I have very mixed feelings about this one. Yes, I liked it - alot! It is just so...quirky! Originally published in Korea in 2021, it was translated into English in 2024.

Lee Gee Eun is an award-winning author/illustrator who strikes a chord with this 80-page long Picture Book/graphic novel for young readers. The story opens with a wizened old woman sitting in a pile of dandelions asking the reader if they would like to hear a story... When Tiger gets bored, he becomes an obnoxious bully to all the animals in the woods, until one day he meets the dandelion from space who has attached itself on the tip of his tail. Tiger does all he can to get the plant off his tail, until the day comes that he solves what is a big problem for the small animals and they view him as a hero. After that he is a changed tiger and the animals come to his rescue to save their friend. The old woman closes the story with a curious comment.

This has all the feelings in it of an old folktale. The pacing is excellent, character development is strong. Kids will delight as they begin to realize why Tiger says/does the things he does.

Artwork was created digitally in Photoshop. There is a wonderful use of white space in this one. A bit larger in size and thickness, this story demands it. The colors of the animals - particularly Tiger and the dandelion - are just right. There is a magic in these images that draws the reader in.

Use in units on modern folklore, units on kindness, and just to "make you feel good".

Highly Recommended for grades PreK-3.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet friendship story from Korean author/illustrator Lee Gee Eun.

Tiger is grumpy and bosses all the other animals around yet wonders why no one likes him or will share their food with him. Somehow a dandelion becomes attached to Tiger’s tail and the two manage to save Chicken’s egg and help the animals cross the river when the bridge washes out. Tiger doesn’t always say things the right way, but Tail-Feather manages to smooth things over and both end up not only making friends, but becoming friends. As the season roll by, the friendships grow leading up to the time when dandelions must spread their seeds but Tiger’s sadness is lessened by the presence of new friends and the coming of new dandelions in the spring.

Bright, bold illustrations accompany this animal fantasy friendship story and the illustrator makes a wise coloration choice by printing Tiger’s words in black and Tail-Feather’s in green. Often times the words and the pictures roll and spin on the page, adding to the fun.

Longer than many picture books but the bulk of the book is the illustrations so the word count stays low.

Lots of opportunity for conversation about how to make friends and speak to others. Plenty of examples of what to do and what not to do in regard to friend-making. Recommended for readers & listeners in preschool through grade 2.

Thanks for the preview copy, Levine Querido.

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower by Lee Gee Eun, translated by Aerin Park is a delightful book about a grump tiger and a very persistent, friendly, talking dandelion. Per the book jacket, “Tiger is a bit grumpy. Then a talking Dandelion shoots down from space and attaches permanently to his tail. (Don’t ask how!)” Hahaha! I was intrigued when I read the premise to this story and delighted when my 7-year-old laughed out loud while reading it. Both of us found the book to be delightfully entertaining and different.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the humor in this book and the illustrations are comic like and then transform into page filled art pieces. Tiger is kinda a bully and no other animals want to hang with him. Then he wakes to find a tail flower stuck to his tail. At first the two creatures don't get along, but soon though learning about each other and Tail Flowers patience and kindness they become best friends. A story about friendship and letting go.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*
This almost feels like a draft rather than the final product. Some of the illustrations are sweet, but look unfinished. And the story is a little random, and not particularly memorable. But maybe some of it was lost in translation.
It was definitely unique though.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this imaginative tale with quirky characters and unpredictable situations. Definitely going to pass it along!

A hungry tiger's relationship with the animals around him changes when he awakens to find he has a tail-flower.

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh, I loved this episodic picture book comic tale of unlikely friendship, transformation, and the passage of time. Beautiful and funny and odd!

Themes: Friendship, Change, Time
Age range: Kindergarten-Elementary

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ferocious tiger terrifies everyone in the jungle with his bullying ways until he is suddenly struck wtih a flower attached to the end of his tail...a wise flower who teaches tiger to be thoughtful and kind and tiger learns how to be a friend.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will admit I don't think I understand why they chose to tell the story this way but it was cute.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5

A lenda dos amigos (São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2024)

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from Netgalley.

[Alyvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO cute!!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming story about how love can change souls.

[Griselda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story and amazing illustrations. Cute and quirky and also a little sad.

[Charles-Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sympathique petite histoire pour les tous petits. Poétique et doux, mais peut être un peu difficile à suivre.