Kids love animal stories, and what’s better than a story that has a big, fierce, ferocious cat at its heart. Countless stories have been spun around the magnificent tiger. They have been the subject of fantasy, fiction and folklore for an immeasurable amount of time. Here are 5 tiger story books which are a must-read for every child (and adults too!).
1. The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
Everyone is familiar with this story. The story of Mowgli, an infant, who is raised by a wolf pack, a leopard and a bear, and is hunted by the tiger, Sher Khan, is well known due to its movie adaptations. However, the book is much more than one single story; it is a collection of stories, interwoven with morals and lessons conveyed through stories about animals in a jungle. Different interpretations and versions of the book can be found for different age groups.
2. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Stranded alone in the middle of the ocean on a lifeboat with a Royal Bengal tiger for your only companion – sounds scary? That’s exactly what happens to Piscine Molitor, shortened to Pi, when the ship he is traveling on, along with his family and their collection of animals sinks, in the Pacific Ocean. This Man-Booker Prize winning novel has been also made into a movie by the same name, and is ideal for ages 10 and above.
3. Tiger Boy by Mitali Perkins
A tiger cub escapes from a nature reserve. A businessman is looking for the cub for his own profit. A young boy and his sister decide to find the cub and return it to the reserve before anyone can harm it. But, not everything is as straightforward as they think. The Tiger Boy is a simple story, with a complex set of emotions, illustrating the complex choices that one has to make in life.
4. Tiger On A Tree by Anushka Ravishankar
A simple story about a tiger who wanders into a village, only to be caught by the villagers and released, since none of the villagers knew what to do with it. Tiger on a Tree can be interpreted at so many levels, depending upon the age group of the readers. The rich illustrations make it suitable for reading by, and reading to very young kids.
5. Tiger, Tiger by Lynne Reid Banks
When one says tiger, one expects to read a story set in India (well, most of the times). Tiger, Tiger is a pleasant exception. The story of two tiger cubs, poached and sent to Rome, where one grows up pampered in the palace, and the other one grows up abused, trained to fight in the Colosseum, is sure to make you laugh and cry at the same time. If you are reading to very young kids, be prepared with answers to many questions about ancient Rome.
Which are your favorite tiger stories? Tell us in the comments below.
