Emily’s Tiger by Miriam Latimer

Emily doesn’t want her hair cut, doesn’t want to eat her carrots and is really angry when she doesn’t get to be the clown’s assistant at a birthday party.  And when Emily gets angry, she turns into a real tiger.  Roar, teeth and all.  It takes her wise grandmother who also has a temper of her own to teach Emily how to tame her inner tiger. 

The strength of this book is in the analogy of anger with being a tiger and being out of control.  Any of us with bad tempers (and I am definitely included in that group) completely understand that tempers not only flare but sometimes go beyond that and we turn into something entirely different.  Children will really relate to this comparison and will see that they are not alone.  I also appreciated the fact that Emily does not give up her tiger side.  Instead she tames it and learns to control it.

The art in the book fully supports the analogy as well, as the tiger Emily bounds across the pages, roars directly at the reader, and generally behaves badly.  Equally as powerful are the images where Emily is controlling herself but still enjoying being a tiger. 

Recommended for all children, not only those who roar.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.