The Sea Tiger

Themes of friendship and adventure run through this beautifully illustrated book. The Sea Tiger introduces us to a magical underwater world which he shares with his friend Oscar. He tells us 'Where I lead, Oscar follows'. Every day is a different adventure under the sea. Both myself and the child I read it with studied the artwork in awe. The enchanting illustration is reminiscence of the 'golden age' of children's literature; the flowing lines evocative of art nouveau paintings. In one particularly dreamlike image, the Sea Tiger and Oscar are riding on carousels of sea horses in an underwater fairground, holding up balloons made up of a multitude of sea creatures. In another, they are hitching a ride to the surface on glowing jellyfish, where they sit 'looking out at a sea studded with stars'. The Sea Tiger tells us that 'I am Oscar's best friend' and then, that 'I am Oscar's only friend. He explains 'That's why it's up to me / to make a new friend / so maybe Oscar can too'. The book ends with the Sea Tiger and his new friend (a fellow sea-feline) floating up and away in a conche shell balloon. They are waving at Oscar and his new friend, who are doing the same. We are not sure if the Sea Tiger is Osca's imaginary friend, or real friend (Oscar himself is a merman/ boy). Either way, there are many PSHE talking opportunities within this book, such as what it means to be a good friend and why it might be important to have more than one friend. Beautiful all-round. Picture book / Ages 3+ / Reviewed by Ellie Williams.

Suggested Reading Age 3+