The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower

Grumpy Tiger is persuaded into doing good deeds for his forest neighbors in this heartening picture book by Lee (The Red Fruit). Tiger wakes up one morning to discover that a dandelion with a human face is growing from the end of his tail. Despite Tiger’s best efforts, chatty and friendly Tail-Flower remains firmly attached to the appendage. At the bloom’s insistence, Tiger assists his woodland neighbors by accomplishing various tasks, such as saving Chicken’s egg from a far-off ledge and helping several critters cross a river. Soon, once-ostracized Tiger finds himself accepted by the other animals, an event that Lee depicts via nuanced facial expressions, which showcase Tiger’s surprise and delight. As the seasons change, so too do Tiger and Tail-Flower, both growing older, as evidenced by Tiger’s graying fur and Tail-Flower’s changing foliage (“We look so cool!” Tiger declares). After getting trapped in a precarious situation, Tiger and Tail-Flower must sacrifice something dear to them. In a mix of straightforward comics-style panels and animated spreads, Tiger and Tail-Flower’s adventures culminate in a thoughtful examination of friendship and grief that teems with tongue-in-cheek humor and joy. Ages 7–10. (Sept.)