If You Go Walking in Tiger Wood

A jolly tiger face entices us in to Tiger Wood through a square peephole in the big tiger-striped cover of this counting/spotting book for nursery/reception children.

Inside there’s a gently rhythmic, rhyming text, repetitive in pattern, as the two (Asian? Chinese?) children wander through colourful jungly scenes, watching out for the tigers that may be watching out for them. As they go, they meet a variety of other creatures, not noticing a gradual accumulation of interested-looking tigers creeping up behind them.

Rich, page-filling gouache illustration, peepholes in each page and nicely hidden tigers in the shadows add to the engagement, and of course, there’s a surprise ending. Protected by the friendly animals they meet, the children experience a range of emotions before finding that, after all, the tigers only want to play. Lots of potential for language, number, drama and art work.