Review For:
The Tiniest Tiger, by Joanne L. McGonagle
ISBN: 9781419691416, Publisher: BookSurge
I found The Tiniest Tiger, by Joanne L. McGonagle, charming. Joanne McGonagle is listed as a new author and she resides in Ohio. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the book go to conservation of endangered wild cats through the Conservation Fund of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The author states, “No matter how big or small the results, the important thing is to try!”
Targeted for ages seven to eleven, this children’s story relays a tiny kitten’s adventures through the large cat exhibit in the zoo after becoming lost. Searching for a way home or a place to belong, the tiny kitten encounters a tiger, a lion, a cheetah, a clouded leopard, a puma, a jaguar, a bobcat, and an ocelot. While learning about these various cats, the tiny kitten realizes he doesn’t fit in there with them, and so the hunt continues for a home.
I found a few editorial errors, but nothing of great concern. The only real negative critique I can give is that this book is designed to enlighten children about endangered wild cats, but does not explain what endangered means. I would have liked to have seen a small description or definition in the book somewhere, worked into the storyline.
The book gives great detail about every wild cat in the Big Cat Section of the zoo including: endangered status, size, weight, life span in the wild and in the zoo, pack/litter size, and the area of the world that is native home. While moving on to the different types, we learn little tidbits about each cat that makes them unique or stand out from the rest. I would strongly recommend this to second, third, and fourth grade classrooms, as it is a great teaching tool for endangered cats, the differences in them, problem solving skills, and it goes to a great cause. I certainly hope the author chooses to do other titles along this line such as endangered ocean life, or other mammal species.
The Tiniest Tiger is a skillfully crafted and well-written read for children. The illustrations are phenomenal and the message is powerful. Bravo!
Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer
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