Tiger-ific Teatime (The Tiger Who Came to Tea - Judith Kerr)

Member Name: dougal868

Product:	The Tiger Who Came to Tea - Judith Kerr
Date:	18/10/08 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A charming story

Disadvantages: A bit random with a few holes

'The Tiger Who Came To Tea' often appears on lists of classic children's books and all time favourites but you have to wonder why! It really seems so random and a bit bizarre with a 'plot' that's full of holes. But maybe that's it's charm???

Plot? Sophie is at home having tea with her Mummy when there is a ring at the door. Who is it? A tiger, of course! The tiger asks if he can stay for tea then goes on some sort of famished rampage where he eats everything in the house, drinks all of 'Daddy's beer' and somehow manages to drink all of the water from the tap...hmm... Then he goes away again. Sophie's Mummy worries that Daddy will be coming to no food but when he gets back he just takes them all to a cafe so there is a happy ending!

Now, I'm (nearly) 27 and I probably spoil this story by analysing it all too much but it does seem just a little far fetched and bizarrely random. How can you drink all the water from the tap? And why would they take Sophie to a cafe in her nightdress? And do shops really sell tiger food? (and the cat food in Asda that's called 'Tiger' doesn't count - no matter what my three year old tries to tell you!). And don't even get me started on the illustrations...it looks like the tiger has done a poo at one point but it's actually a brown tea pot he's knocked on to the floor...

Anyway, as I say, I maybe over analyse it and spoil it somewhat. Really, I suppose it has a simple charm. I remember seeing Judith Kerr on tv recently as the book is celebrating it's 40th anniversary. Apparently she wrote the book based on a story she used to tell her own children while they were waiting for her husband to come home from work and when she realised how much they enjoyed it she decided to turn it into a book. Clearly, to have lasted 40 years, it is a very popular story and has entertained generations of children. If you let your imagination take control over your common sense and enjoy the lovely illustrations (no matter how inaccurate they can be at times) it is a charming book and certainly one that our daughters love.

What leaves me wondering is how on earth it will be able to be adapted to the stage as it is due to open as a play quite soon...

Summary: A lovely story that has stood the test of time