A Tiger and Tea Party Antics in ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea.’

"The Tiger Who Came to Tea" is a delightful children's story written and illustrated by Judith Kerr. The story revolves around a little girl named Sophie and her mother, who are unexpectedly visited by a tiger one day. The tiger joins them for tea, eats everything in the house, including all the food, and even drinks all the water in the tap. Afterward, the tiger leaves, and Sophie and her mother go out for a meal as their house is empty with no remaining food or beverages to consume. The story would conclude happily giving readers a fun time to imagine the silly scenario that is happening in the story. Now, I have read this book since I was a child, and I loved it so much! though I did have a bit of mixed feelings about the tiger, so let's dive in further!

The Tiger is depicted as being very polite and well-mannered, despite his appearance as a Tiger. The tiger is also portrayed as being very hungry, as he eats everything in Sophie's house, including all the food in the pantry and even drinking all the water in the taps. Despite his large appetite, the tiger is not portrayed as menacing or scary, but rather as a playful and mischievous character who brings excitement and adventure into Sophie's otherwise ordinary day. It is good to note that tigers are often seen as exotic and exciting animals, which adds to the whimsical and fantastical nature of the story. The idea of a tiger visiting a suburban home for tea is inherently amusing and captures the imagination of young readers. Tigers are also often associated with qualities such as strength and boldness, which contrasts humorously with the tiger's polite and friendly demeanor in the story. This contrast adds to the humor and charm of the character.

The Illustrator uses unique and fun expressions for the characters which give the reader a better understanding of the story and how the characters feel toward the event. The illustrations depict Sophie and her mother showing their surprise and delight at the tiger's visit. The tiger himself is depicted as large and striped, with a friendly and slightly mischievous expression. The scenes of the tiger eating and drinking everything in sight are particularly memorable, with piles of food and empty dishes scattered around the kitchen. It is also worth noting that there is a small detail at the end of the story showing a cat with orange and black striped fur on the road when Sophie and her parents are going out for dinner. It might just symbolize the Tiger that Sophie and her Mother met earlier that day. 

Overall the story would give good messages to young readers. The tiger's visit disrupts Sophie and her mother's routine, but instead of reacting with fear or frustration, they embrace the situation and enjoy the whimsical tea party with the tiger. This can be seen as a message about the value of spontaneity and adventure in life, as well as the importance of embracing the unexpected with a positive attitude. The story encourages readers to be open to new experiences and to find joy in the unexpected moments that life brings. It also goes to show that not everything that seems scary is scary, maybe they are just as mischievous as the tiger in the story.

If you are interested, you may read the book on the link that is provided down below!

The Tiger Who Came To Tea