Never Tickle a Tiger

Pamela Butchart

Marc Boutavant

Bloomsbury Children’s, 2015

pbk., 32pp., RRP $A14.99

Izzy is one of THOSE children – the ones who can’t stop “shuffling and jiggling, squirming and twitching, wriggling and fiddling.”  No matter where she was she was always doing something – not always wise – and the most common word she heard was “STOP!” But it was also the word she took least notice of- jiggling the jelly, knotting the knitting, painting with her pigtails…

So when her class went to the zoo, it’s no surprise her teacher was apprehensive and spent her time pulling Izzy into line as she excited the elephant, messed with the monkeys, bothered the bears and poked the peacocks.  And it’s no surprise that when she was told she was never to tickle a tiger, that’s exactly what she decided to do – with the most amazing consequences!  But did it stop her need to move?

Every teacher knows an Izzy and how tiring they can be even when we acknowledge that this is something innate that cannot be controlled by the word, “Stop!”  This is an hilarious story that will put the little things in perspective as well as being a great vehicle for investigating cause and effect, action and reaction, behaviour and consequence.  Illustrated in the main as a series of vignettes, the four-page spread of the aftermath of tickling a rather smug, haughty-looking tiger is just superb creating an image that remains in the mind and may give pause for thought for Izzy. Or does it?

This is a fast-moving story, hurried along by both the alliteration and the illustrations which underscore Izzy’s energy and enthusiasm for life.  It probably won’t stop the Izzy in your class but it will provide a delightful interlude of fun for everyone.