Everyone in Mr Tiger's town is prim and proper, leaving him bored and itching to loosen up, have fun, be wild... But walking on all fours, roaring wildly and casting off his clothes to swim in the fountain appal his friends, who pack him off to the wilderness. There, he is completely wild but lonely, and so he decides to return - only to find a town that is beginning to change. The other animals are starting to embrace their inner spirit, leaving Mr Tiger content, safe in the knowledge that he will be free to express himself yet fit in.
This book is a must-buy. The sepia characters in late Victorian dress capture the stuffiness of the town and the animals' unquestioning acceptance of its social norms, while children will identify with Mr Tiger's frustration at having to live within other people's rules. Ultimately, this story raises important questions that we must all ask ourselves: how and why should society constrain our behaviour? And how can we be true to ourselves and enjoy the freedom of self-expression while continuing to respect the views and life choices of others?
