When a Tiger Comes to Dinner by Jessica Olien (review)

“Did you know that a tiger is coming to dinner?” an unseen narrator announces to an unwary rat, who’s just chilling at home. Rat must then scramble to prepare his home for a tiger with the narrator’s advice, from preparing entertainment (“A tiger loves a rousing game of Go Fish”), a meal (“Tigers LOVE peanut butter sandwiches for dinner”), and a proper greeting (“‘Rooooaaaarrrr!’ means ‘hello’”). When Tiger finally arrives, Rat greets her with a giant roar that frightens her to tears, because as it turns out, roaring “actually means, ‘I’m going to eat you.’” Tiger and Rat patch up their awkward situation in spite of the narrator’s misguidance, which is inaccurate on multiple accounts—“Tigers actually LIKE checkers and party hats,” even though Rat was warned against them—and enjoy a delicious meal of peanut butter sandwiches over a game of chess. This book is a prime choice for a light-hearted readaloud, with the narrator-to-rodent dynamic echoing that of the reader and young listener. Olien’s digital art, sporting thick, uneven lines and saturated colors with light shading, suits this quirky story; she litters in humorous details for the observant kid to pick up on, from a “Cheeses of France” poster in Rat’s home to a jungle-themed record Rat brings out for Tiger, and kids are sure to get a kick out of the image of Rat roaring viciously. This sweet story suggests that you don’t need an elaborate guide to welcome dissimilar friends into your home—you just need each other’s company.