Little Tiger - Are you my mummy? (Little Tiger: Are You My Mummy?)

Member Name: poppyash

Product:	Little Tiger: Are You My Mummy?
Date:	11/08/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Shows different characteristics of various animals.

Disadvantages: None

I came across this book a few weeks ago when I took my grandchildren to the Welsh Mountain Zoo. Wanting to give them a little treat to remind them of their visit we went into the Trading Post to look at what was on offer. My granddaughter aged 2 ½ years liked a pink monkey with Velcro on its hands and feet so it could be attached to different things and my grandson aged 18mths took a fancy to a stuffed penguin. However while looking round a notice a selection of books called "Are you my Mummy?" They were on sale at £1.99 the RRP is £4.99. The books are published by Igloo Books Ltd. who were formed in Kettering in 2003.

The books are hard backed, touchy-feely board books which makes them easy to wipe clean and youngsters easy to hold. They are 20cm by 20cm in size so are easy to store and youngsters to handle. They are illustrated quite superbly by Kait Eaton. There are 4 books in the series and they all have a touch and feel element to them:-

Little Bunny
Little Polar Bear
Little Tiger Cub
Little Duck

I purchased two of the books for the children to look at.

Little Tiger Cub - Are you my Mummy?

The cover of this book has a blue elephant and a orangey tiger cub with brown stripes and with a light brown fluffy tummy with black stripes on it. The drawings are cute and realistic enough for youngsters to recognise by their characteristics.
On turning the page there is a double page spread depicting a large monkey with two smaller monkeys and also the tiger cub with its brown striped fluffy tummy. The script used is very simple and easy for children to follow. The tiger cub asks the monkey if she is her mummy. The monkey replies that she doesn't have striped fur like the tiger cub. This invites children to learn about the different characteristics of the animals involved.
On the following page there is another double page spread involving a large elephant and a baby elephant. Again the tiger cub with its brown striped fluffy tummy asks if the elephant is her mummy. The elephant replies that she doesn't have long whiskers not like the tiger cub. The next double spread involves a zebra who compares their feet introducing the words hooves and paws and the page after that involves a giraffe who compares their voices. After that the tiger cub is reunited with her mummy where the features of tigers are detailed. The brown striped fluffy section which has been featured as the tiger cub's tummy throughout the book now becomes the mummy's tummy on this page. All the drawing are beautifully illustrated throughout with the use of bright colours but my favourite one in this book is that of the black and white zebra with its pink nostrils and mouth.
The format of this book is very simple, as is the writing and the use of white furry material throughout gives the children something to touch.
My grandchildren loved the book. They sat quietly looking at the pictures while I read the text. The book gave the opportunity for inter-action, they each took it in turns to point to different features of the animals. It introduced them to different descriptive words and the different characteristics of different animals.
I feel that it is an ideal early years book for children starting to read or as a simple picture book for toddlers and I highly recommend it.

ISBN No. 9781845616786

NB. There is a warning on the book that it is not suitable for children under 36 months therefore I would recommend that the book is not left lying around and only used when an adult is present.

Summary: A lovely educational book as well as a general reading book.