The Last Tiger

It was only a matter of time before dystopia trickled down to picture books. A scuffed-up boy named Luka, first seen huddled in an empty drainpipe, lives in a world "where the people had forgotten what was important. There were no trees, no plants... and no animals." As such, Luka is surprised to discover a miserable-looking yellow tiger with its hand caught in a tin can. Echoing Aesop's "The Lion and the Mouse," Luka frees the tiger, and a friendship is born; Luka soon gets a second opportunity to help the tiger when an airship snags it, imprisoning the tiger in a cage for all to see. A dejected Luka discovers the tiger's secret%E2%80%94its hideaway conceals a lush garden%E2%80%94and a visit there is all it takes for the citizens to realize the error of their ways. Elliott's (Sometimes) scraggly drawings handily conjure an industrial world that's grim without being oppressively bleak. While readers will be glad that a happy future awaits Luka and his new friend, the too-easy finale and %E2%80%A8humanity's quick rebound aren't really earned. Ages 5%E2%80%937. Agent: The Bright Agency. (Dec.)