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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

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Original poster

I am (possibly) over-analysing "The Tiger who came to Tea". Do you do the same with childrens' books?

60 replies

Pendulum · 26/06/2009 13:24

I love reading this book to my DDs, but always end up thinking about it really hard. What was at the back of Judith Kerr's mind when she wrote it?

  • Is it meant to be the kind of fantasy story a child of Sophie's age would make up and tell her teachers?
  • Is it a parable about the excitement of a change to the everyday routine (a guest at tea-time, no bath, supper in a cafe- the latter especially exotic I guess at the time of writing)
  • Or is it a tale that Sophie's Mogadon-ed up mother make up to explain to her dad why his dinner wasn't ready?

Anyone else thought about this? What other childrens' books seem to you to have hidden depths?

OP posts:
Pyrocanthus · 26/06/2009 14:12

'I love the picture of them walking along the dark street. Reminds me of how exciting it was to be out after dark as a child. ' (Pendulum).

Exactly, I was a small child in the 1960s and I've always thought that I knew that street.

wasabipeanut · 26/06/2009 14:04

DS recently was given a copy as an Easter pressie. I was struck by how it is such a 70's book, including the illustrations but it is nice and DS loves it.

MNHQ
AnnMumsnet · 26/06/2009 13:53

do see the show, it's truly lovely (i've seen it twice!)

Original poster
Pendulum · 26/06/2009 13:51

Have found the thread. It's a 2004 'classic' started by Cod.

Of all the threads to copy, I had to choose one of Cod's. Sheeeesh.

OP posts:
Seeline · 26/06/2009 13:43

I don't care why she wrote it - she could have been high on LSD - it's still one of the best children's books ever. I loed it as a child and both my DS and DD have loved it. Despite it being so old fashioned now, teh images it creates are still amazing.

paisleyleaf · 26/06/2009 13:43

"I love the picture of them walking along the dark street. Reminds me of how exciting it was to be out after dark as a child"

Me too

Original poster
Pendulum · 26/06/2009 13:42

oooh thanks wheelybug I will search for it.

shame I can't come up with an original thread though!

OP posts:
Wheelybug · 26/06/2009 13:39

There is a huge thread about this which is quite amusing.

i think it was actuaslly something to do with nazi occupation of germany.

We saw it on stsage recently and the real live judith kerr came on stage at the end. She is quite ancient !

Original poster
Pendulum · 26/06/2009 13:36

ggirl- my DD1 searched the aisles for Tiger Food and was devastated not to find it.

I love the picture of them walking along the dark street. Reminds me of how exciting it was to be out after dark as a child.

OP posts:
brimfull · 26/06/2009 13:28

yes lol

I go for the mogadon-ed mother one.That book always cheers me up.

I want to walk down the aisle of a supermarket and by a big fucking tin of tiger food.