Heart of a Tiger
PreSchool-Grade 2?At a special ceremony that takes place one year after their birth, animals choose names for themselves. The only stipulation is that all of the creatures must agree that the name is "fair and honest." Number Four, a small gray housecat, seems destined to be called "Smallest of All"?until, a week before Naming Day, he goes into the jungle in search of Tiger, to learn to be like him. Despite the ridicule of the Bengal and others, he proves himself to be both clever and brave. Arnold's picture-book debut is, on the whole, impressive. While some of her descriptive passages are lovely, others occasionally rely too heavily on adjectives and adverbs. But overall, the story's strong suit is child appeal. The glowing watercolors done in jewel-like tones (perfect for the Indian setting and the lush jungle scenes) are particularly appealing. In fact, the colors, mood, and two-dimensional look are all characteristic of Indian art. An author's note states that, while the animals' naming custom is, of course, fabricated, she has based it on similar customs in various cultures around the world. This very satisfying story will lend itself to group sharing.?Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, ILCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.