Tiger and Turtle - Hardcover

Grade 1–3—Inspired by an Indian tale told to Rumford by an Afghani letter writer, this story recounts a quarrel between a tiger and turtle. They usually ignore one another, but when a flower falls between them, each one claims it. The fight that ensues sends the flower out of reach, and both animals seek revenge for their lost treasure. Tiger swats turtle dangerously high, but he lands safely in a pond. When tiger seeks solace in the same pond, turtle bites him and remains clamped to his back. To detach his tormentor, tiger springs forward, leading them both to a precipice. But "happily for them/and for [this] story," their landing is not disastrous, and they learn an important lesson in the bargain. Behind most illustrations are designs inspired by "those used by Indians and Pakistanis to decorate their shawls, rugs, and jali windows," painted on handmade Chinese paper. The stylized animals are heavily outlined in black and are striking against backgrounds of different gradations of orange. When tiger races away to shake off turtle, Rumford depicts his legs as thick black circles of motion resembling car tires. The brief text is well paced, with repeated rising and falling action, and the resolution of the most suspenseful moments requires a page turn. Read this tale aloud along with stories from Eunice de Souza's 101 Folktales from India (Penguin, 2005) for a lively storyhour.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT
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