The Rat and the Tiger

March 1, 1993
``I'm a rat, just a tiny little rat,'' says the diminutive narrator of this piquant tale about friendship. Towering above him is his best buddy, Tiger, ``a big tough fellow.'' Rat explains that the two ``used to have a little problem.'' Whenever they played cowboys, Rat always had to be the bad guy. And whenever they shared a doughnut, he was left with a small piece while his buddy received the Tiger's share. But one day the big bully goes too far. When he kicks over the elaborate block castle Rat painstakingly built, the latter declares that Tiger is no longer his friend. And the stubborn little fellow makes sure that his companion has truly mended his selfish ways before he declares them pals once again. As in her past books, Kasza ( The Pigs' Picnic ; A Mother for Choco ) here delivers a valuable lesson cunningly and effectively. With their drolly expressive faces, Tiger and Rat pass on the importance of sharing, playing fairly and treating others as you'd like to be treated. As a bonus, Kasza adds a characteristically clever tangle at story's end. Ages 4-8.

April 1, 1993
PreS-Gr 2- Children will root for the underdog in this familiar scenario. Because of his larger stature, Tiger tends to bully his friend Rat, forcing him to play the bad guy in cowboy games, allotting him only a tiny piece of their shared doughnut, and sending him into the brambles to pick a flower. After each episode, Rat philosophically states, "What could I say? I'm just a tiny little rat." Finally, the rodent reaches his limit, speaks his mind, and is immediately fearful of the consequences. But Tiger is shame-faced, not angry, and makes amends to restore the balance in their friendship. Bright, watercolor illustrations set against a white background depict appealing characters with wonderfully expressive features. A simple text and repetitive plot elements make this a good choice both for story times and for beginning readers. -Joy Fleishhacker, New York Public Library