ONE HAPPY TIGER

A tiger makes some friends.

“ONE sad tiger” sits alone at the beginning of this board book, but as little ones turn the pages, the furry beast explores the jungle and makes several friends. The tiger pals around with birds, insects, fish, and other tiny (at least in comparison to the tiger) jungle critters, counting them up from “TWO bright bugs” to “NINE splishy fish” and “TEN little friends.” Rayner’s watercolor illustrations are beautiful, creating lush scenes with a deep color palette that makes each turn of the page a surprise. The book is set in a hardcover binding, helping it stand out on the shelf. The one-to-10 counting structure makes this title endearingly rereadable, which adults will certainly find themselves happy to do. The tiger is just as curious and playful as the little ones reading about its adventures, making this title all the more appealing. The illustrations are taken from Rayner’s Augustus and His Smile (2006), a book whose visuals far outshone its text; their adaptation to this format with its very simple storyline makes this one of those rare successful transformations of picture book to board book. The tininess of some of the figures offered for counting marks this for older babies and toddlers.

An engrossing, luscious board book that’s sure to become a staple.