The Tiger and the Frog

Christine Linge is a past director of the Toronto & District Parent
Co-operative Preschool Corporation and a freelance writer.

Thach Bui has employed his skill as an award-winning editorial
cartoonist to give an exciting new look to this traditional Vietnamese
folk tale. With parallel texts in English and Vietnamese, this is a
short tale in a small volume, intended for language instruction. The
reading level is suitable for junior grades and up, but is not too
simplistic for the adult audience. Any reader will enjoy this witty
fable and its lesson: “Even though you’re small, if you use your
wits, you can outsmart a much bigger bully!”

Although rendered in shades of orange, black, and grey, the lively
illustrations, with their engaging facial expressions and detailed
scenery, keep the reader’s attention. The story is brief; to avoid
being the tiger’s lunch, the frog uses the tiger’s own pride and
strength to outwit him. The frog’s bravado (he convinces the tiger
that frogs eat tigers for lunch!) is the material for some very funny
drawings.

The simple animation activity on the last page is an added bonus to
this recommended book.