Friends, you need to get your big fat paws on this brand new picture book. Talk about a roarin’ good time!
Here I was, my meek, mild-mannered self minding my own business, when this ferociously funny SOUP BOOK growled at me. Open me, read me, devour me, it said, slurp. up. every. word! Who am I to ignore such a request?
Seriously. I didn’t stand a chance from the get-go. When I opened the book, I saw this:
Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
See what I mean? Look at the endpapers! I want to marry them.
In Tiger in My Soup by Kashmira Sheth and Jeffrey Ebbeler (Peachtree Publishers, 2013), a young boy left in the care of his older sister begs her to read his favorite tiger book to him. Alas and alack, she is too absorbed in her own book to pay him any attention, prompting the boy to pull out his most imaginative stops to get her to change her mind.
She remains totally unfazed by his emphatic pleas, so he demands lunch. What does she serve him? A hot bowl of ALPHABET SOUP! That would have been plenty exciting enough for me, but when the boy stirs his soup, a tiger materializes from the steam (and the pasta letters spell out “R-O-A-R”)!
Well, one cannot just calmly sip and slurp when an angry tiger (growing bigger by the minute) threatens your very existence. The boy confronts the tiger — whisk, ladle, can opener in hand — leaping atop chairs, careening over tables, stabbing, wrestling, courageously battling the beast at every turn, while big sister calmly continues to read and read (ho-hum). What’s a boy to do?
Well, she finally “looks up from her book,” offers to reheat his soup, but tsk tsk, doesn’t heed his warning to “Look out for the tiger!” who rumbles from the microwave.
She just sighs, but finally finally finally begins reading the tiger book to him . . . and, then, WHOA . . . well, I won’t tell you the ending, but let’s just say: better watch what you ask for, cause tigers can sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places. *mwwahahahaha!*
This lively story is great fun to read aloud (you get to practice your grrrrrrrs), and Ebbeler’s art, replete with what Publishers Weekly calls “abundant visual hyperbole”, ramps up the energy and excitement tenfold, “gleefully building on Sheth’s prose with dynamic perspectives” and hair-raising details (the angular house perilously perched atop a rocky promontory sets the stage for the unexpected).
The realistically drawn tiger looms large and is ever menacing, personifying the intensity of children at play, and the humorous touches (a comical seagull + over-the-top facial expressions and gestures) nicely garnish this rumbly uproarious story soup.
Tiger in My Soup will be officially released in April, and it’s already garnered *starred reviews* from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. This is definitely not your mother’s chicken noodle and will easily become a favorite of hungry readers everywhere. Don’t be surprised (or scared) if they ROAR for more.
So, what are the author’s and illustrator’s favorite soups?
Kashmira likes tomato soup, Indian style with cumin, curry leaves and cilantro:
and Jeffrey likes Tom kha kai (a spicy Thai coconut milk-based soup with chicken, lemongrass, mushrooms, etc.) Hot stuff!
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TIGER IN MY SOUP
written by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
published by Peachtree Publishers, April 2013
Full Color Picture Book for ages 4-8, 32 pp.
Cool themes: brothers and sisters, babysitters, humor, soup, tigers, books and reading
*Best enjoyed with your own bowl of Alphabet Soup!
* * *
♥ SECONDS ♥
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This post is being linked to Beth Fish Read’s Weekend Cooking, where all are invited to share their food-related posts. Come join the deliciousness!
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Copyright © 2013 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
How brilliant: “Feed me! Read to me!” Sounds just like a regular day at my house. The tiger is fabulous…my kids will love this!
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Yes they will! Stock up on soup now :).
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Oh, Jama. I can’t wait to read this book. I love roaring with the kids and it will be perfect for National Soup Month. Grrrrrrr
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Oho! So you like to roar? Another reason to love you, Margie 🙂 . . .
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Oh, this looks WONDERFUL! Who will enjoy it more – kids or the grown-ups reading to them? I think it will be a toss-up. Congrats to the creators and to Peachtree.
(And, is it just me, or does Mr. Cornelius look a wee bit nervous in those photos up there?)
Thanks for sharing! Mrrrooww.
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Oh, you noticed? Mr. Cornelius was trying to be as brave as possible, but he *is* a little nervous around tigers . . . 🙂
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Very, very cute book. Who would have thought there would be a book written just for you, Jama! Every part seems to fit well indeed. Congratulations to the author and illustrator-the book is bookmarked!
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Hope you get to see it soon, Linda. So much fun!
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Looks great! The illustrations are exceptional.
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Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!
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Cool! I like the art! 😀
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As soon as I saw the endpapers, I knew I’d like the rest of the book :).
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Looks fun! This would pair well with David LaRochelle’s IT’S A TIGER! Sadly, there is no alphabet soup in David’s book, though:>(
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I’ll have to look for David’s book. Thanks for the heads up. 🙂
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Jama, the illustrations look amazing. A book that uses a TON of hyperbole — I’m sold. You won’t be surprised to hear that we are having homemade carrot ginger soup for dinner tonight. It is dee-licious.
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Yum! Nothing hits the spot like homemade soup — especially since it’s been so cold recently. But watch out for tigers. 🙂
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Oh wow! I love this. What a fun — and exciting — story. And the illustrations are fab. On to my gift list it goes, for the little foodies in my life.
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Your little foodies are in for such a treat!
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Love your own version if a tiger in your soup! Lol
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Thanks, Caite. Mr. Cornelius was in charge of table decorations :).
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Sounds like a fun story. Alphabet soup ist just the best! Love the illustrations, too.
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Yes, alphabet soup is the best. I like to read my soup while I’m eating it. 🙂
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Delicious treat as per usual, Jama. Tiger in my Soup sounds wonderful…. Especially to the 50% of me that is Indian and loves the food of my childhood.
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I do love Indian food and envy your having grown up with it!
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this sounds like a wonderful book. I can see this becoming a favourite for many little ones. Thanks for sharing it with me.
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You’re welcome, Heather. Thanks for reading :)!
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Jama, fantastic pics. Lovely post. Cheers
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Thanks, Carole!
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Oh, this sounds endearing and fun! Love the illustrations and the concept. I’ll have to find this the next time I’m in a bookstore. Thanks for sharing!
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I dare you to read it aloud in a bookstore!!
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What a fun, imaginative book. I’m sure my kids would’ve loved it when they were little. Anything where sound effects could be added was always popular.
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Sound effects are very effective for read alouds. It would be fun to impersonate a tiger too :).
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This sounds like a sure hit with both the little ones and the more ‘grown-up’ reader… love the idea of practicing my roar!!
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I imagine the little ones will roar right back, making for a very lively storytime :).
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As far as I know, the Mullugtwanny soup is available locally, though you could check the website for contact information and ask them. It is a refrigerated product, but could easily ship. http://www.thirus.ca
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Thanks, I’ll check the website. The soup sounds good!
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This book has such lovely illustrations, how do you find them all?
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I request the illustrations from the publisher and always include permission lines at the end of my review posts :).
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This book sounds wonderful and I will have to rush out to get my paws on it both for home and my school library. It sounds like a perfect read-aloud! Thank you!
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Good idea, Michelle. I predict lots of fun and good roaring in your future :).
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Beautiful illustrations, Jama and a delicious tale!
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Glad you enjoyed the post, Peggy!
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