Don't Tickle the Tiger!

Synopsis

You mustn't tickle the tiger or you might make it roar... but that touchy-feely patch is ever so tempting! Babies and toddlers will love pressing the touchy-feely patches to hear the animal sounds in this hilarious and charming book.

Summary

Don’t Tickle the Tiger! is a children’s book by Michael Dahl. The book has fun, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations by Oriol Vidal. It reminds children to not try to meddle in things that are too big for them to handle.

In the first chapter, we are introduced to a boy named Pushkin who loves doing usual childish activities such as playing tag and even hiding behind trees. But one day, Pushkin goes too far and decides to go look for a wild tiger near the woods. His parents are not too happy about it, but he continues anyway. On the way, Pushkin meets animals such as a skunk, an owl, and a fox, all of which advise him against looking for the tiger. He finally reaches the tiger’s cave and discovers that the tiger is much bigger and scarier than he thought. Pushkin quickly runs back home, with the helpful advice of the animals he had met along his journey.

The second chapter opens with Pushkin’s parents scolding him for his recklessness, and warning him that he should never ever go looking for wild animals again. But Pushkin doesn’t seem to be listening. Once he leaves the house, he encounteres a gorilla who wants to play tag with him. Though Pushkin attempts to explain why he can’t be playing tag with a gorilla, the gorilla refuses to take no for an answer and follows after him. After a lot of running around, Pushkin manages to get away from the gorilla and goes home at last.

In the third chapter, Pushkin and his parents go to the circus and Pushkin wants to try taming a wild lion. The lion-tamer does not let Pushkin come near the lion and instead suggests a much safer activity; playing tag with a lion cub. Pushkin plays with the cub and learns to appreciate animals in their natural habitat instead of trying to meddle with them.

The fourth chapter picks up with Pushkin boldly planning to swim with crocodiles. His parents tell him it’s probably not a good idea, but he goes ahead anyway. He meets an old turtle who gives him some useful advice on how to stay away from the crocodiles and eventually reaches the pond. Pushkin discovers that the crocodiles are too huge for him to mess with and decides to stay far away from them.

The fifth and final chapter sees Pushkin trying to tame a rhinoceros. He meets a beetle that encourages him not to try it as the rhinocerous can be very dangerous. After getting scared by the rhinocerous’ size and strength, Pushkin runs away and safely returns home.

At the end of the book, Pushkin comes to realize that he should never try to tam a wild animal. He can still enjoy their presence from a safe distance, without trying to bother them. This is a valuable lesson for young readers about respecting the wild and not trying to meddle with things out of their control.