What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
For over 30 years children have been enthralled and delighted by this fanciful tale of a tiger joining a little girl and her mum for tea one day. Funny and entertaining.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
Judith Kerr
89 books343 followersJudith Kerr was a German-born British writer and illustrator who has created both enduring picture books such as the Mog series and The Tiger Who Came To Tea and acclaimed novels for older children such as the autobiographical When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit which give a child's-eye view of the Second World War.
Kerr was born in Berlin but left Germany with her parents and her brother, Michael, in 1933, soon after the Nazis first came to power. They were forced to leave as her father, noted drama critic, journalist and screenwriter Alfred Kerr, had openly criticised the Nazis,who burned his books shortly after the family had fled Germany. They travelled first to Switzerland and then on into France, before finally settling in Britain, where Kerr has lived ever since. She subsequently became a naturalised British citizen.
Kerr was born in Berlin but left Germany with her parents and her brother, Michael, in 1933, soon after the Nazis first came to power. They were forced to leave as her father, noted drama critic, journalist and screenwriter Alfred Kerr, had openly criticised the Nazis,who burned his books shortly after the family had fled Germany. They travelled first to Switzerland and then on into France, before finally settling in Britain, where Kerr has lived ever since. She subsequently became a naturalised British citizen.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 797 reviews
Read
May 3, 2020I learnt important life lessons from this book:
*Don't try to drink all the water from the tap
*Drinking tea from the pot via the spout gets you a mouth full of tea leaves
*A single tin of tiger food will fill you up as much as an entire household full of food
The story is a simple one - what happens when a tiger comes to tea (tea here in the British English sense of a post-midday meal eaten with tea, the content and actual time of the meal correlating with social class and location). The situation isn't just anarchic and chaotic, as the tiger violates the social order - eating all the cakes and sandwiches, drinking all the tea and all the water from the tap- but is also beautifully illustrated. The tiger is a big, sinuous, magnificent looking creature on the page whose behaviour is both human and catlike.
The reaction of the child-reader (or auditor) is guided by the exuberant joy of the child in the story, Sophie, who is obviously delighted with this amazing animal that proceeds to turn their lives upside down by eating all the food in the house and drinking all there is to drink (including the single bottle of beer, this is an abstentious household apparently). It's Sophie's reaction to the tiger that is the key to the book she's fully able to enjoy the pure extravagance of the tiger's behaviour, while the representative adult, in a nice touch of realism, comes across as being a bit overwhelmed even though the tiger is polite throughout and minds its Ps and Qs (at least figuratively, I don't recall how often it actually says please and thank you as one does when invited in for tea).
Order is restored (although Sophie can't have her bath because the tiger drank all the water) and future tiger related devastation is averted by buying a very large tin of tiger food. I always loved the idea that the one tin of tiger food would satisfy a tiger as much as all the food in the house and all the tea from the pot. Since Judith Kerr, at the age of ten, came to Britain as a refugee I wonder how far the story was for her the transformation of the sinister knock at the door of a powerful presence that would not respect social norms into one that could instead be exciting, joyful and safe. Not a retreat from a world that threatens disruption and disorder, but a celebration of it and the ability to adapt to it.
Adult readers may feel that some cultural differences need discussion including the existence of: milkmen, grocer's delivery boys, stay at home mums and decisive dads for example, although my sister reading this at nursery to a gaggle of young children finds that most of all she has to deal with the rampant speculation that the small stripped cat visible on one of the last pages is in fact the tiger in disguise on its way to turn another household upside down.
*Don't try to drink all the water from the tap
*Drinking tea from the pot via the spout gets you a mouth full of tea leaves
*A single tin of tiger food will fill you up as much as an entire household full of food
The story is a simple one - what happens when a tiger comes to tea (tea here in the British English sense of a post-midday meal eaten with tea, the content and actual time of the meal correlating with social class and location). The situation isn't just anarchic and chaotic, as the tiger violates the social order - eating all the cakes and sandwiches, drinking all the tea and all the water from the tap- but is also beautifully illustrated. The tiger is a big, sinuous, magnificent looking creature on the page whose behaviour is both human and catlike.
The reaction of the child-reader (or auditor) is guided by the exuberant joy of the child in the story, Sophie, who is obviously delighted with this amazing animal that proceeds to turn their lives upside down by eating all the food in the house and drinking all there is to drink (including the single bottle of beer, this is an abstentious household apparently). It's Sophie's reaction to the tiger that is the key to the book she's fully able to enjoy the pure extravagance of the tiger's behaviour, while the representative adult, in a nice touch of realism, comes across as being a bit overwhelmed even though the tiger is polite throughout and minds its Ps and Qs (at least figuratively, I don't recall how often it actually says please and thank you as one does when invited in for tea).
Order is restored (although Sophie can't have her bath because the tiger drank all the water) and future tiger related devastation is averted by buying a very large tin of tiger food. I always loved the idea that the one tin of tiger food would satisfy a tiger as much as all the food in the house and all the tea from the pot. Since Judith Kerr, at the age of ten, came to Britain as a refugee I wonder how far the story was for her the transformation of the sinister knock at the door of a powerful presence that would not respect social norms into one that could instead be exciting, joyful and safe. Not a retreat from a world that threatens disruption and disorder, but a celebration of it and the ability to adapt to it.
Adult readers may feel that some cultural differences need discussion including the existence of: milkmen, grocer's delivery boys, stay at home mums and decisive dads for example, although my sister reading this at nursery to a gaggle of young children finds that most of all she has to deal with the rampant speculation that the small stripped cat visible on one of the last pages is in fact the tiger in disguise on its way to turn another household upside down.
February 18, 2023
The Tiger Who Came to Tea is a picture story book for very young children. It was first published in 1968, but is one of those books which appeals to generation after generation. I remember children in the 1970s loving it, and it is just as popular today.
It is all about a little girl called Sophie, her mummy, and a tiger, all of whom have tea together. (Of course it is. What did you expect? The title told you that is exactly what it would be.)
The story starts with a ring at the door, interrupting Sophie and her mummy when they are having their afternoon tea in their kitchen. Who could it be, they wonder. Sophie opens the door and a tiger peeps around the edge of the door frame. He is very polite, and asks if he may join them. “Of course, come in” Sophie’s mummy says.
But a tiger is a very big animal, with a simply enormous appetite. Although he sits very nicely at the kitchen table, and waits politely to be offered the sandwiches, the cakes, the buns and then the biscuits, each time he scoffs the lot! And when he is offered a cup of tea, he not only drinks it all, but also all the milk in the milk jug. Then he looks round to see what else he can find.
The tiger gets into all the saucepans, the cupboards and the fridge, eating every single scrap of food in the house and drinking everything too - even the water from the taps. Nobody seems to mind though. Sophie cuddles him, rides on his back and plays with his stripy tail - and the tiger still has a great big smile on his face. At last there is nothing left to eat. So …
“Thank you for my nice tea. I think I’d better go now”
says the tiger, and he leaves by the same door as he came in, as they all wave goodbye to each other.
After he has left, Sophie’s mummy notices what a mess there is, and oh dear, Sophie can’t have her bath either because there is not a drop of water left! Sophie’s daddy comes home and they both explain that there is no food because a tiger had eaten it all. Not to worry, daddy says, they can all go out and have a meal in a cafe.
So that is exactly what they do, even though it has got dark and all the street lights are on. (If you look carefully you can even see a stripy cat on the pavement!) They have a lovely meal of sausages, and chips, and ice cream. The next day Sophie and her mummy go out to buy some more food, and they make sure they buy a big tin of Tiger Food.
But the tiger never did come to tea again.
This is a charming book, with a fully anthropomorphised, gentlemanly tiger. Partly why it succeeds so well is that it is so matter of fact, using a familiar if slightly old-fashioned English setting, with an oddball element. The carefully drawn pictures complement it very well. Minimalist backgrounds make sure that the handsome tiger with his cheeky grin is very prominent, along with the simply rendered and attractive characters. Line and gouache is used, with perhaps little touches of crayon; the painted colours being flat and bright.
Judith Kerr has also written a series of 18 well-loved children’s picture books about “Mog the Cat”. Her novel for older children, “When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit” has also been highly acclaimed. It is semi-autobiographical, giving a child’s-eye view of the Second World War. Although living most of her life in England and thought of as an English author, Judith Kerr was actually born in Berlin, Germany. She has a Jewish background, and her family had to flee the country in 1933, as her father was on a death list for opposing the Nazis. He was a theatre critic, and after he fled the country his books were burned by the Nazis. The family escaped to Switzerland and France, before finally settling in Great Britain.
Some critics, notably the children’s author Michael Rosen, have suggested that the tiger in this story represents something in her past:
“Judith knows about dangerous people who come to your house and take people away. She was told as a young child that her father could be grabbed at any moment by either the Gestapo or the SS - he was in great danger. So I don’t know whether Judith did it consciously or not - I wouldn’t want to go there - but the point is he’s a jokey tiger, but he is a tiger”.
However the author herself denies this. She first thought of the story after visiting a zoo with her three year old daughter, telling it many times over and over for about a year. Then she wrote it all down, and created the careful quirky illustrations.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea is one of the best selling children’s books of all time. It has been translated into several languages, adapted for the theatre and made into a musical. Judith Kerr was married to the author Nigel Kneale, of Quatermass fame, a very inventive SF screenwriter. The two were married for over 50 years, until his death in 2006. Judith Kerr herself is still writing and illustrating her delightful picture books at the grand age of 93.
It is all about a little girl called Sophie, her mummy, and a tiger, all of whom have tea together. (Of course it is. What did you expect? The title told you that is exactly what it would be.)
The story starts with a ring at the door, interrupting Sophie and her mummy when they are having their afternoon tea in their kitchen. Who could it be, they wonder. Sophie opens the door and a tiger peeps around the edge of the door frame. He is very polite, and asks if he may join them. “Of course, come in” Sophie’s mummy says.
But a tiger is a very big animal, with a simply enormous appetite. Although he sits very nicely at the kitchen table, and waits politely to be offered the sandwiches, the cakes, the buns and then the biscuits, each time he scoffs the lot! And when he is offered a cup of tea, he not only drinks it all, but also all the milk in the milk jug. Then he looks round to see what else he can find.
The tiger gets into all the saucepans, the cupboards and the fridge, eating every single scrap of food in the house and drinking everything too - even the water from the taps. Nobody seems to mind though. Sophie cuddles him, rides on his back and plays with his stripy tail - and the tiger still has a great big smile on his face. At last there is nothing left to eat. So …
“Thank you for my nice tea. I think I’d better go now”
says the tiger, and he leaves by the same door as he came in, as they all wave goodbye to each other.
After he has left, Sophie’s mummy notices what a mess there is, and oh dear, Sophie can’t have her bath either because there is not a drop of water left! Sophie’s daddy comes home and they both explain that there is no food because a tiger had eaten it all. Not to worry, daddy says, they can all go out and have a meal in a cafe.
So that is exactly what they do, even though it has got dark and all the street lights are on. (If you look carefully you can even see a stripy cat on the pavement!) They have a lovely meal of sausages, and chips, and ice cream. The next day Sophie and her mummy go out to buy some more food, and they make sure they buy a big tin of Tiger Food.
But the tiger never did come to tea again.
This is a charming book, with a fully anthropomorphised, gentlemanly tiger. Partly why it succeeds so well is that it is so matter of fact, using a familiar if slightly old-fashioned English setting, with an oddball element. The carefully drawn pictures complement it very well. Minimalist backgrounds make sure that the handsome tiger with his cheeky grin is very prominent, along with the simply rendered and attractive characters. Line and gouache is used, with perhaps little touches of crayon; the painted colours being flat and bright.
Judith Kerr has also written a series of 18 well-loved children’s picture books about “Mog the Cat”. Her novel for older children, “When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit” has also been highly acclaimed. It is semi-autobiographical, giving a child’s-eye view of the Second World War. Although living most of her life in England and thought of as an English author, Judith Kerr was actually born in Berlin, Germany. She has a Jewish background, and her family had to flee the country in 1933, as her father was on a death list for opposing the Nazis. He was a theatre critic, and after he fled the country his books were burned by the Nazis. The family escaped to Switzerland and France, before finally settling in Great Britain.
Some critics, notably the children’s author Michael Rosen, have suggested that the tiger in this story represents something in her past:
“Judith knows about dangerous people who come to your house and take people away. She was told as a young child that her father could be grabbed at any moment by either the Gestapo or the SS - he was in great danger. So I don’t know whether Judith did it consciously or not - I wouldn’t want to go there - but the point is he’s a jokey tiger, but he is a tiger”.
However the author herself denies this. She first thought of the story after visiting a zoo with her three year old daughter, telling it many times over and over for about a year. Then she wrote it all down, and created the careful quirky illustrations.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea is one of the best selling children’s books of all time. It has been translated into several languages, adapted for the theatre and made into a musical. Judith Kerr was married to the author Nigel Kneale, of Quatermass fame, a very inventive SF screenwriter. The two were married for over 50 years, until his death in 2006. Judith Kerr herself is still writing and illustrating her delightful picture books at the grand age of 93.
March 19, 2024
There is a lovely something about the cadences of Judith Kerr’s writing in this book. She tells the story just exactly the way a child wants a story to be told—she focuses on just exactly the details a child cares about most (the mystery of who’s at the door; the matter of what was eaten; the thrill of going out after dark when cars have their headlights on). I’ve read this book at least twelve thrillion times to my twins and yet the magic of the thing never fades… indeed, it only seems to increase with repetition.
September 17, 2022
Such a simple idea, a tiger calling in to have tea with you, but just the sort of thing a child would wonder about and think what would happen if one did? How fun that the tiger had eaten all the food so they would have to go out to supper, and how handy the tiger had drunk all the water in the taps so you wouldn't have to bother with a bath but you could go to the local cafe in your nightdress. We always enjoyed spotting Mog in the street on their way to the cafe. We liked how the tiger had drunk daddy's beer, had mummy wisely hidden hers? And we liked how mummy was sensible enough to buy a big tin of tiger food afterwards so that this wouldn't happen again!
A perfect bedtime story and all the more wonderful knowing that Judith wrote this for her daughter.
A perfect bedtime story and all the more wonderful knowing that Judith wrote this for her daughter.
September 28, 2021
A wonderfully charming children's book that has enchanted many generations for other 50 years.
It's a nice simple story of a tiger arriving at Sophie's house and asking if he could stay for tea.
The brilliant accompanied illustrations sees the tiger devour every food and drink item in the house.
I thought Sophie's Daddy was pretty carm when he found out that the tiger had drunk all his beer!
It's a nice simple story of a tiger arriving at Sophie's house and asking if he could stay for tea.
The brilliant accompanied illustrations sees the tiger devour every food and drink item in the house.
I thought Sophie's Daddy was pretty carm when he found out that the tiger had drunk all his beer!
September 28, 2009
The British are so nonchalant. A tiger comes in and eats and drinks everything in the house. No worries, we'll just go out to eat tonight.
March 15, 2009
Should a tiger come to tea,
it is scarce a tragedy.
Give him buns
two or three --
or ten --
and should he come again
we'll resupply with grub.
But first -- let's to the pub.
it is scarce a tragedy.
Give him buns
two or three --
or ten --
and should he come again
we'll resupply with grub.
But first -- let's to the pub.
September 19, 2023
المراجعة بالعربية في الجزء الثاني:
In addition to being one of the best books for preschoolers as simple to be repeatedly told, the amazingly illustrated "Tiger" was the main reason why my little nephew loved that book.
In a witty and amusing narration, the author breaks the fear that a kid could feel toward a fierce animal like a tiger. It was portrayed as an enormous, giant creature that funnily takes up most of the space in the kitchen and dining room of the little girl's house. Yet it was (the tiger) funny, friendly and-somehow-polite till it left their home.
Though the tiger caused a disaster, we see the father takes it easy. I think I should learn a lesson or two from that story as a grown-up that frets over everything trivial thing.
واحدة من كنوز سور الأزبكية التي أُرزق بها بين الحين والآخر. لم انتبه لها غير منذ أيام عندما كنت أقوم بتصفية محتويات مكتبتي، وتساءلت لمَ لم احكيها حتى الأن لإبن اختي الصغير "أنّوس الفلحوس 😁" والذي يبلغ من العمر ثلاث سنوات.
أحبها "أنس" كثيراً، وطلب مني أن أعيد حكايتها لثلاث مرات.
بالقصة "القماشة المرنة" لقصة الأطفال المثالية لسن ما قبل المدرسة. تلك القماشة التي تجعل من السهل على الطفل تتبع مسار الحكاية التي تُحكى بترتيب منطقي وبسيط، سواء كان زمني يحدث في فترة قصيرة "يوم واحد"، أو مكان محدود "منزل الطفلة". كانت بالقصة أيضا المساحة السلسة التي تُمكننا نحن الكبار من إحداث بعض التغييرات في الحكاية في كل مرة نحكيها، مثل تغيير أنواع أصناف وجبة الشاي الذي التهمها النمر، أو أسماء الطعام المُخزن في الثلاجة و دولاب المطبخ الذي أتى عليه أيضاً بالكامل. فتلك التغيير يحبه الطفل كثيرا ويُشعره بنوع من تجديد الأُلفة بينه وبين حكايت�� المفضلة.
كان رسم النمر ككيان حيواني ضخم يأخذ معظم الحيز المكاني الذي يتواجد به في منزل الطفلة، كان تفصيل عبقري من المؤلفة والرسامة "جوديث كير". مما جعل الطفل يتمثل حقيقة فارق الحجم بين النمر وبي�� الأم والطفلة.
لا أعرف إذا كانت تلك القصة يُعاد طبعها الأن أم لا (تحديث: عرفت أنه يُعاد طبعها حتى الأن، ومتاحة على كيندل)، فهى واحدة من القصص القديمة التي كُتبت في نهاية الستينات. وأراها قصة كُتبت بخفة وعبقرية وبساطة تجعلها تستحق أن تُقرأ في أي وقتٍ وزمن.
In addition to being one of the best books for preschoolers as simple to be repeatedly told, the amazingly illustrated "Tiger" was the main reason why my little nephew loved that book.
In a witty and amusing narration, the author breaks the fear that a kid could feel toward a fierce animal like a tiger. It was portrayed as an enormous, giant creature that funnily takes up most of the space in the kitchen and dining room of the little girl's house. Yet it was (the tiger) funny, friendly and-somehow-polite till it left their home.
Though the tiger caused a disaster, we see the father takes it easy. I think I should learn a lesson or two from that story as a grown-up that frets over everything trivial thing.
واحدة من كنوز سور الأزبكية التي أُرزق بها بين الحين والآخر. لم انتبه لها غير منذ أيام عندما كنت أقوم بتصفية محتويات مكتبتي، وتساءلت لمَ لم احكيها حتى الأن لإبن اختي الصغير "أنّوس الفلحوس 😁" والذي يبلغ من العمر ثلاث سنوات.
أحبها "أنس" كثيراً، وطلب مني أن أعيد حكايتها لثلاث مرات.
بالقصة "القماشة المرنة" لقصة الأطفال المثالية لسن ما قبل المدرسة. تلك القماشة التي تجعل من السهل على الطفل تتبع مسار الحكاية التي تُحكى بترتيب منطقي وبسيط، سواء كان زمني يحدث في فترة قصيرة "يوم واحد"، أو مكان محدود "منزل الطفلة". كانت بالقصة أيضا المساحة السلسة التي تُمكننا نحن الكبار من إحداث بعض التغييرات في الحكاية في كل مرة نحكيها، مثل تغيير أنواع أصناف وجبة الشاي الذي التهمها النمر، أو أسماء الطعام المُخزن في الثلاجة و دولاب المطبخ الذي أتى عليه أيضاً بالكامل. فتلك التغيير يحبه الطفل كثيرا ويُشعره بنوع من تجديد الأُلفة بينه وبين حكايت�� المفضلة.
كان رسم النمر ككيان حيواني ضخم يأخذ معظم الحيز المكاني الذي يتواجد به في منزل الطفلة، كان تفصيل عبقري من المؤلفة والرسامة "جوديث كير". مما جعل الطفل يتمثل حقيقة فارق الحجم بين النمر وبي�� الأم والطفلة.
لا أعرف إذا كانت تلك القصة يُعاد طبعها الأن أم لا (تحديث: عرفت أنه يُعاد طبعها حتى الأن، ومتاحة على كيندل)، فهى واحدة من القصص القديمة التي كُتبت في نهاية الستينات. وأراها قصة كُتبت بخفة وعبقرية وبساطة تجعلها تستحق أن تُقرأ في أي وقتٍ وزمن.
July 24, 2017
Yes, I know 'why hadn't I read this before?' I think I did when I was very young but revisiting again brought up the oddness of the whole book and the visit of the tiger. I can understand why adult readers see the tiger as a representation of Nazis visiting the Kerr's home - its unquestionable authority and power and it feeds on the family's stock of food has a sense of ever-present danger. Although mother and daughter never seem worried about the visit or the tiger itself, its size and mention of a probable return did make for a slightly disconcerting visit. On saying this, having read this with my son, he thought the whole thing very funny and enjoyed reading and watching how much the tiger could eat. Food for thought.
July 11, 2010
I loved this story and, as a child, would have been utterly delighted reading this/having this read to me.
It says it was published first in 1968. It feels more 1950s to me. From the words within, I do believe it was probably first published in England.
I’ve always loved tigers, though as an adult not in zoos or other entertainment parks, and so even this very “un-tigerlike” tiger appealed to me. The story is very funny and entertaining, and fun to read aloud.
The illustrations are equally amusing, and I especially liked the picture of the little tiger striped cat the family passes by on the street.
A dated but very funny book.
It says it was published first in 1968. It feels more 1950s to me. From the words within, I do believe it was probably first published in England.
I’ve always loved tigers, though as an adult not in zoos or other entertainment parks, and so even this very “un-tigerlike” tiger appealed to me. The story is very funny and entertaining, and fun to read aloud.
The illustrations are equally amusing, and I especially liked the picture of the little tiger striped cat the family passes by on the street.
A dated but very funny book.
April 30, 2011
Why is it that a lot of our favourite children's books have to do with food?
This one is particularly nostalgic for me, as it is the story I used to calm down a two year old who had fallen off the top bunk, thus needing an x-ray to see if any bones were broken. A normal examination was impossible as she started to scream every time the doctor came near her, so there we were, me and a doctor, both in lead aprons, trying to hold down a wriggling screeching refusenik so that her nice photo would come out unblurred. In the end I suggested that the doctor should leave, and I would tell her a story to soothe her and they could do the x-ray when they saw fit. This was the story.
I'm not sure if it's really suitable for my English student, I think she already knows enough words to do with food and eating, and maybe it's not too good an idea to try to explain why a mother and daughter would have the kind of tea in the afternoon that involves sandwiches and buns and cake and biscuits, and then have a supper of sausage and chips as well. Actually, no, they didn't get the cake and sandwiches because the tiger ate them all, and drank all Daddy's beer and all the water in the tap too. Two year olds just accept this fantasy world, and accept that it's a world where the milk is delivered to the door and a boy from the grocery brings your order by bicycle, but a seven year old questions it. This is always the anomaly when teaching young children a second language; their linguistic ability does not match their cognitive level.
This one is particularly nostalgic for me, as it is the story I used to calm down a two year old who had fallen off the top bunk, thus needing an x-ray to see if any bones were broken. A normal examination was impossible as she started to scream every time the doctor came near her, so there we were, me and a doctor, both in lead aprons, trying to hold down a wriggling screeching refusenik so that her nice photo would come out unblurred. In the end I suggested that the doctor should leave, and I would tell her a story to soothe her and they could do the x-ray when they saw fit. This was the story.
I'm not sure if it's really suitable for my English student, I think she already knows enough words to do with food and eating, and maybe it's not too good an idea to try to explain why a mother and daughter would have the kind of tea in the afternoon that involves sandwiches and buns and cake and biscuits, and then have a supper of sausage and chips as well. Actually, no, they didn't get the cake and sandwiches because the tiger ate them all, and drank all Daddy's beer and all the water in the tap too. Two year olds just accept this fantasy world, and accept that it's a world where the milk is delivered to the door and a boy from the grocery brings your order by bicycle, but a seven year old questions it. This is always the anomaly when teaching young children a second language; their linguistic ability does not match their cognitive level.
June 26, 2018
A classic much loved story about a tiger that came to tea and ate everything in the house.
Really entertaining story for the younger children and I enjoyed reading this book as well.
Recommended.
Really entertaining story for the younger children and I enjoyed reading this book as well.
Recommended.
April 20, 2023
সব দুর্যোগের একটা ভাল ও মজার দিক থাকে।
বাচ্চারা আমাদের চেয়ে অনেক বেশি পজিটিভ চিন্তাভাবনা করতে পারে। যেসব বিপদের সম্ভাবনায় আমাদের গা শিউরে উঠে সেখানেও বাচ্চারা একটা ভাল কিছু ভেবে ফেলে।
এই বইটি তেমনিই এক শিশুর কল্পনার বই।
কি হত যদি একটা বাঘ নাস্তার দাওয়াতে এসে ঘরের সব খাবার সাবার করে ফেলত। সব দুধ খেয়ে ফেলত, বাবার বিয়ারের বোতল এমনকি, টেপের পানিও অবশিষ্ট রাখত না।
শিশুমন এর সুন্দর কিছু পরিণতি দেখেছে। যেমন ঘরের খাবার যেহেতু শেষ, বাবা সবাইকে নিয়ে বাইরে খেতে যাবে, যেটা হয়ত স্বাভাবিক দিনে খুব একটা হয়ে উঠে না। টেপের পানি শেষ - গোসলের ঝঞ্জাতে যেতে হচ্ছে না। দুধের বোতল শেষ - ঐ বিচ্ছরি স্বাদের জিনিসটিও খেতে হচ্ছে না। বাবার বিয়ারের স্টকও শেষ - বাবা বিয়ার খেয়ে মাতলামি করবে না।
এসব ভাবতে ভাব���ে ছোট্ট মেয়েটি বিকেলের নাস্তার সময় অপেক্ষায় থাকে এই বুঝি বাঘ এসে ডোরবেল চাপল আর বিনয়ের সুরে জীজ্ঞেস করল- "আমি কি আপনাদের সাথে নাস্তা করতে করতে পারি?"
বাচ্চারা আমাদের চেয়ে অনেক বেশি পজিটিভ চিন্তাভাবনা করতে পারে। যেসব বিপদের সম্ভাবনায় আমাদের গা শিউরে উঠে সেখানেও বাচ্চারা একটা ভাল কিছু ভেবে ফেলে।
এই বইটি তেমনিই এক শিশুর কল্পনার বই।
কি হত যদি একটা বাঘ নাস্তার দাওয়াতে এসে ঘরের সব খাবার সাবার করে ফেলত। সব দুধ খেয়ে ফেলত, বাবার বিয়ারের বোতল এমনকি, টেপের পানিও অবশিষ্ট রাখত না।
শিশুমন এর সুন্দর কিছু পরিণতি দেখেছে। যেমন ঘরের খাবার যেহেতু শেষ, বাবা সবাইকে নিয়ে বাইরে খেতে যাবে, যেটা হয়ত স্বাভাবিক দিনে খুব একটা হয়ে উঠে না। টেপের পানি শেষ - গোসলের ঝঞ্জাতে যেতে হচ্ছে না। দুধের বোতল শেষ - ঐ বিচ্ছরি স্বাদের জিনিসটিও খেতে হচ্ছে না। বাবার বিয়ারের স্টকও শেষ - বাবা বিয়ার খেয়ে মাতলামি করবে না।
এসব ভাবতে ভাব���ে ছোট্ট মেয়েটি বিকেলের নাস্তার সময় অপেক্ষায় থাকে এই বুঝি বাঘ এসে ডোরবেল চাপল আর বিনয়ের সুরে জীজ্ঞেস করল- "আমি কি আপনাদের সাথে নাস্তা করতে করতে পারি?"
April 12, 2022
Going to keep track of all the books I read with my little brother bc why not :)
June 18, 2020
It’s a magical book, I can’t put my finger on why exactly. But what loses a few stars is the fact there is a beginning a middle but in my opinion no end to it. It just kind of finishes. Probably really a 3.5
August 10, 2019
Sophie and her mummy are just sitting down to tea in this classic British picture-book, when a Tiger knocks on the door and asks to join them. Sophie's mum invites him in, and his appetite proves formidable, leading him to eat everything in the house. With Sophie's daddy on the way home, what will Sophie's mum do about supper? Fortunately, Daddy has an idea...
Originally published in 1968, The Tiger Who Came to Tea has the same gentle humor to be found in its creator's books about Mog, the forgetful cat. As a huge Mog fan, I've been meaning to pick this one up, and I'm glad I finally have! The artwork is charming - I liked the use of color, the juxtaposition of the realistic and fantastic, and the Tiger's immensely appealing smile - and the story entertaining. Subsequent stories about demanding tea guests - thinking here of titles like Tea Rex - clearly owe a debt to Kerr.
Originally published in 1968, The Tiger Who Came to Tea has the same gentle humor to be found in its creator's books about Mog, the forgetful cat. As a huge Mog fan, I've been meaning to pick this one up, and I'm glad I finally have! The artwork is charming - I liked the use of color, the juxtaposition of the realistic and fantastic, and the Tiger's immensely appealing smile - and the story entertaining. Subsequent stories about demanding tea guests - thinking here of titles like Tea Rex - clearly owe a debt to Kerr.
June 26, 2016
A dual garage sale was held by a pair of neighbors with older children, a need to declutter, and excellent taste in books - multiple titles that I vaguely recognized from friends' lists.
Anyway, this is a cute story of a tiger who came unexpectedly to tea, and ate everything. After it was read to her, DD (age 3), demanded an immediate reread, and then a third just before naptime. I had fun, too.
Anyway, this is a cute story of a tiger who came unexpectedly to tea, and ate everything. After it was read to her, DD (age 3), demanded an immediate reread, and then a third just before naptime. I had fun, too.
January 9, 2014
Is it bad that I kept expecting the tiger to eat the little girl next?
May 30, 2020
Gözəl çizim, qəribə hekayə və sonluq. Vaqif çox sevdi və hər gecə bunu oxudur, daha nə istəyim? :)
November 2, 2009
This one may eventually be moved off the "can't read to Tommy" shelf. The problem here was that the tiger eats all their food. That wasn't right! I cautiously tried it again last month, and we took it a little more stoically.
September 10, 2015
Read this when babysitting and it was just really lighthearted and fun!
July 26, 2012
For my first book review I have chosen The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. This is a story I have read many times for my nephews and for the boy whom I child mind for and they love it.
It is a classic tale written over forty years ago which tells the story of Sophie and her mum who sit down to have tea one afternoon, when there is a knock at the door, and they have an unexpected visit from a tiger. They allow the tiger to come in and have tea with them as if there is nothing unusual about this situation. They do not hesitate in sharing their food with the tiger, who turns out to be very hungry and eats all their food (‘He ate all the buns on the dish. And then he ate all the biscuits and all the cake, until there was nothing left to eat on the table’). After the tiger has devoured all the food he says thank you and leaves. Sophie and her mum wave him off at the door. The father returns from work and suggests that they go to a café for their tea as the tiger has eaten all their food. Sophie and her mum also go to the supermarket to replenish their cupboards and they buy a large tin of tiger food in case their visitor returns.
From my experience this is a story most enjoyed by children aged between 3 and 5 years. What child wouldn’t love the idea of an exotic wild animal coming to their house! The author creates a great sense of mysteriousness at the end of the story when we are told that the tiger never came back again. We are left wondering where had the tiger come from and where did he go afterwards and why did he not come back. There are great opportunities to discuss these ideas with children or base activities around these ideas after you have read the story with them. Perhaps you can have a discussion with the children on what they would do if a tiger (or some other wild animal) came to their house.
This book has great potential to be used for role plays. I currently work as a child minder and the little boy I mind and I have many times acted out this story with the child always choosing to be the tiger (of course!), he knocks on the living room door, I answer it and act oh so surprised to find a tiger at my door. In our role play we use lots of the dialogue from the book and add in our own changes also. I also recently came across this story on audio CD.
I think one of the themes central to this story is, sharing. Sophie and her mother have to problem allowing the tiger into their home and letting him eat all their food. They are not even annoyed about it and they buy tiger food in case he returns.
The illustrations in this book are lovely. The depictions of the characters and the clothes that they are wearing are a little old fashioned and I think this adds to the charm of the story.
Compared to social norms today, the depiction of gender roles in this story is out of date, with the mother as house wife preparing supper for daddy, and the father as the sole bread winner. However it must be considered that this story was written over forty years ago so I don’t think this is a real criticism.
What I also find interesting is the shift back and forth from realistic to unrealistic items in this story, for example having no food for dinner because a tiger has eaten it all (make believe), a family trip to a café (reality), mother and daughter doing the grocery shopping together (reality), buying tiger food (make believe) .
I really like this book and would highly recommend it. I hope I get to use it in the classroom when I am a teacher.
Can anyone recommend any other good books by Judith Kerr?
It is a classic tale written over forty years ago which tells the story of Sophie and her mum who sit down to have tea one afternoon, when there is a knock at the door, and they have an unexpected visit from a tiger. They allow the tiger to come in and have tea with them as if there is nothing unusual about this situation. They do not hesitate in sharing their food with the tiger, who turns out to be very hungry and eats all their food (‘He ate all the buns on the dish. And then he ate all the biscuits and all the cake, until there was nothing left to eat on the table’). After the tiger has devoured all the food he says thank you and leaves. Sophie and her mum wave him off at the door. The father returns from work and suggests that they go to a café for their tea as the tiger has eaten all their food. Sophie and her mum also go to the supermarket to replenish their cupboards and they buy a large tin of tiger food in case their visitor returns.
From my experience this is a story most enjoyed by children aged between 3 and 5 years. What child wouldn’t love the idea of an exotic wild animal coming to their house! The author creates a great sense of mysteriousness at the end of the story when we are told that the tiger never came back again. We are left wondering where had the tiger come from and where did he go afterwards and why did he not come back. There are great opportunities to discuss these ideas with children or base activities around these ideas after you have read the story with them. Perhaps you can have a discussion with the children on what they would do if a tiger (or some other wild animal) came to their house.
This book has great potential to be used for role plays. I currently work as a child minder and the little boy I mind and I have many times acted out this story with the child always choosing to be the tiger (of course!), he knocks on the living room door, I answer it and act oh so surprised to find a tiger at my door. In our role play we use lots of the dialogue from the book and add in our own changes also. I also recently came across this story on audio CD.
I think one of the themes central to this story is, sharing. Sophie and her mother have to problem allowing the tiger into their home and letting him eat all their food. They are not even annoyed about it and they buy tiger food in case he returns.
The illustrations in this book are lovely. The depictions of the characters and the clothes that they are wearing are a little old fashioned and I think this adds to the charm of the story.
Compared to social norms today, the depiction of gender roles in this story is out of date, with the mother as house wife preparing supper for daddy, and the father as the sole bread winner. However it must be considered that this story was written over forty years ago so I don’t think this is a real criticism.
What I also find interesting is the shift back and forth from realistic to unrealistic items in this story, for example having no food for dinner because a tiger has eaten it all (make believe), a family trip to a café (reality), mother and daughter doing the grocery shopping together (reality), buying tiger food (make believe) .
I really like this book and would highly recommend it. I hope I get to use it in the classroom when I am a teacher.
Can anyone recommend any other good books by Judith Kerr?
December 31, 2016
Oh my God. This Story. I can't work it out, is the tiger a fabrication between the mother and daughter, an excuse for eating the entire contents of the house and not leaving an for Dad? Except mother looks genuinely stressed by the events while Sophie seems to have an unhealthy bond with this tiger. IS this really a tale about child possession? Father has a very long suffering look about him when he returns and he seems to be selling his idea of eating out a little much.
Or worse, is the tiger real, at least in some sense, a local monster eating families out of house and home, all while playing trumpet in his spare time.
I have definitely got to stop thinking about these books too much.
Or worse, is the tiger real, at least in some sense, a local monster eating families out of house and home, all while playing trumpet in his spare time.
I have definitely got to stop thinking about these books too much.
September 19, 2016
This is an entertaining story about a tiger who acts most decidedly improper at tea time. The narrative is short and silly and the illustrations scream of an older time.
I do not remember reading this book when I was a child, but it seems to be a tale that has remained popular over the years. We enjoyed reading it together.
I do not remember reading this book when I was a child, but it seems to be a tale that has remained popular over the years. We enjoyed reading it together.
March 8, 2021
Благодарение на изд. „Лист” съвсем неотдавна емблематичната британска илюстраторка и авторка на детски книги Джудит Кер най-накрая достигна и до българските читатели със своята незабравима „Мог забраваната” – картинна история за патилата на една котка и нейното семейство. А ето, че на български се появява и другата голяма класика на Джудит Кер, в която пък идва ред да се запознаем и с още една голяма котка. Ама наистина... МНОГО голяма! И при все, че апетитът ѝ е огромен, струва си да я поканите вкъщи. „Тигърът, който дойде на чай” е истинска класика, която заслужава място във всяка домашна детска библиотека. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле”: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
May 25, 2012
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr was published in 1968 and was recently turned into a stage play in London. Children's books as theater seems to be having a renaissance of sorts. My inner child is feeling miffed at missing the show.
A mother and daughter sit down to tea (a most wonderful excuse for a mid afternoon snack) when the doorbell unexpectedly rings. The daughter asks who it could be but all the mother can say is that it won't be daddy because he has a key. Upon opening the door they are greeted by a tiger.
When faced with a hungry tiger at the door, there are only two things you can do: slam the door and hide, or invite him in and hope for the best. They invite him in. Although polite (in that he doesn't eat them), the tiger is ravenous. He eats and drinks them out of house and home, including drinking all the water out the tap!
The parents' matter-of-fact reaction to the absurdities of a talking tiger coming to tea and devouring everything is priceless. Their deadpan solutions: go out to a cafe for dinner and buy a giant tin of tiger food is just the perfect solution to a silly book.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr is for me, a forgotten childhood favorite. The glee of sitting down with my grandfather as he read it to me had slipped my memory until I had to catalog a copy.
When I was a child I had a toy tiger I took everywhere. I used to imagine that he would under very special circumstances come to life as a man-sized (sort of like Tony the Tiger but cooler) talking tiger. He'd take me to school and make the cool kid. You can imagine then how The Tiger Who Came to Tea played into that fantasy a bit.
A mother and daughter sit down to tea (a most wonderful excuse for a mid afternoon snack) when the doorbell unexpectedly rings. The daughter asks who it could be but all the mother can say is that it won't be daddy because he has a key. Upon opening the door they are greeted by a tiger.
When faced with a hungry tiger at the door, there are only two things you can do: slam the door and hide, or invite him in and hope for the best. They invite him in. Although polite (in that he doesn't eat them), the tiger is ravenous. He eats and drinks them out of house and home, including drinking all the water out the tap!
The parents' matter-of-fact reaction to the absurdities of a talking tiger coming to tea and devouring everything is priceless. Their deadpan solutions: go out to a cafe for dinner and buy a giant tin of tiger food is just the perfect solution to a silly book.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr is for me, a forgotten childhood favorite. The glee of sitting down with my grandfather as he read it to me had slipped my memory until I had to catalog a copy.
When I was a child I had a toy tiger I took everywhere. I used to imagine that he would under very special circumstances come to life as a man-sized (sort of like Tony the Tiger but cooler) talking tiger. He'd take me to school and make the cool kid. You can imagine then how The Tiger Who Came to Tea played into that fantasy a bit.
July 9, 2012
This book is my daughters favourite bedtime story. It is about a young girl who is having tea with her mother and then the door bell rings. Standing at the door is a tiger. They invite the tiger to join them for tea, only for the tiger to eat all the food and drink all the drinks in the house,leaving nothing for her daddy when he returns home.
This book is very well illustrated, my daughter always gets captivated by how big the tiger is. It gives a strong example of sharing. The young girl did not complain to the tiger for eating or drinking instead she was offering him more.
What I like about the storyline is that the author did not make it realistic until towards the end. If a visitor knocked on your door, you may invite them in for tea, but you would not let them eat everything out of your house. In the story, the mother went along with it, she did not stop the tiger. Once the tiger had left is when it all came to light and that is when she realised that the tiger had eaten everything. When they went shopping to replace the food, they bought tiger food so that if the tiger returned, they would be prepared, I guess we would buy more food into the house, in case our visitor returns.
The tiger who came to tea is now in the theatre and I hopefully will be going to watch it as I know it will bring the story more to life. I highly recommend this book. It is a good read.
This book is very well illustrated, my daughter always gets captivated by how big the tiger is. It gives a strong example of sharing. The young girl did not complain to the tiger for eating or drinking instead she was offering him more.
What I like about the storyline is that the author did not make it realistic until towards the end. If a visitor knocked on your door, you may invite them in for tea, but you would not let them eat everything out of your house. In the story, the mother went along with it, she did not stop the tiger. Once the tiger had left is when it all came to light and that is when she realised that the tiger had eaten everything. When they went shopping to replace the food, they bought tiger food so that if the tiger returned, they would be prepared, I guess we would buy more food into the house, in case our visitor returns.
The tiger who came to tea is now in the theatre and I hopefully will be going to watch it as I know it will bring the story more to life. I highly recommend this book. It is a good read.
July 16, 2013
This was a cute story about how a tiger comes to tea and eats and drinks everything in the house. The kids, both my 5 yr old and twin 3 yr olds were engaged enough to follow the story, but never really showed any interest in the outcome. Not even the tiger they really cared what happened to, and I think it was because the ending fell a little flat, even I was wondering what the point of the book was. After the tiger eats and drinks everything, it leaves and the family is left wondering what they'll feed dad when he comes home. He decides to take them out and then they shop at a store to fill up their house again. The tiger never comes for tea again. And that's about it. Perhaps the point of the book was to have no point? I still don't know.
July 21, 2016
A classic children's book from the author of Mog the Forgetful Cat. Beautifully illustrated, and a very amusing storyline about a friendly tiger who comes to tea one night and eats the family out of house and home. My son enjoyed looking at this book tonight; I'm sure it will be a lifelong favourite of his.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 797 reviews