Belling The Tiger

Belling The Tiger

At last, Mary Stoltz's 1962 Newbery Honor-winning book is back. And now, for the first time, the classic story is brought to life with colorful illustrations in a picture book format. Award-winning illustrator Pierre Pratt adds whimsical new art to this charming tale about two little mice assigned to a mission of putting a bell collar on the mean house cat. Following the successful trend in publishing classic stories in picture books with new illustrations, Belling the Tiger is an enchanting visual and literary adventure for readers aged 6 to 11. From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 4-A newly illustrated version of Stolz's charming book (HarperCollins, 1961; o.p.) about two feisty brothers whose cowardice masks their true bravery. After the mice in a seaside village call a meeting about their cat problem, Bob and Ozzie, the two smallest attendees, are sent on a mission to get a bell and put it on the menacing feline. However, fate steps in, and the winsome siblings are soon off to sea on a wild adventure in which they meet up with a tiger, play a trick on an elephant, and then head for home, where events turn out quite nicely for them in the end. This story has timeless appeal with the unlikely heroes going on a quest, standing up to something fearful, and coming back changed. Reminiscent of Henri Rousseau's surreal animal paintings, Pratt's rich artwork offers a charming alternative to Beni Montresor's delightful pen-and-ink illustrations in the previous edition. However, this new offering's format is problematic. The original book was 64 pages long and has been reduced to a 32-page picture book, making the font size too small for the intended readers. Although a note on the copyright page promises that the text has not been altered, the names of the protagonists have been changed. While the newer title has some appeal, the older one is easier to read.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright ? Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Gr. 2-4. A Newbery Honor Book medal is a rare sight on a newly published book, but in this case the medal was awarded to the 1961 edition, not this one. The text remains the same here, following two lowly young mice who are charged by the alpha mouse with the impossible task of belling the household cat. The illustrations, however, are new. Pratt contributes a series of expressive narrative paintings that reflect the story's understated wit. The text is longer than that of most picture books, and the print is considerably smaller than in many books found in the fiction section. However, this amusing, still-fresh story will make an excellent read-aloud choice for children who are ready to listen to long tales. The colorful, large-scale artwork will enhance the experience. Carolyn PhelanCopyright ? American Library Association. All rights reserved About the Author Mary Stoltz's work, ranging from picture books to young adult novels, has been published in nearly thirty languages. She lives in Longboat Key, Florida.