Emily's Tiger

Miriam Latimer
Barefoot Books

Emily has a terrible temper when she doesn't get her way. She howls and growls and storms around the room just like a real tiger! Emily's parents are at their wits' end and her friends are fed up with her antics. The tiger inside is taking over and it is obvious that someone needs to tame her. Emily's grandmother arrives for a visit smack dab in the middle of one of her tiger tantrums.

Granny has a secret to share with Emily: she can also turn herself into a tiger! The difference being Granny only turns into a happy tiger, not an angry one. Being a happy tiger looks like so much fun that Emily decides to give it a try. Before she knows it, her temper is tamed and she has become a happy tiger just like Granny.


This book is a helpful tool when teaching children how to keep their tempers in check. It's interesting to observe their reaction to seeing Emily misbehaving and creating chaos. In addition to teaching manners, it's also a plain fun read. Barefoot Books are filled with bright and clever illustrations, and this one is no exception.

For a great gift, pair with . . .

Animal ABC's Ring Flash Cards from Mudpuppy. An animal represents each letter of the alphabet. Both upper and lowercase letters are displayed, while the back of each card presents additional words. Secured with a reclosable ring, these cards are great for decorating or learning on the go. $14.99

Ship Shapes

Stella Blackstone & Siobhan Bell
Barefoot Books

This is a wonderfully engaging board book about shapes! Young readers will find it enormously fun to discover the objects hidden in the illustrations. Rectangles and squares are transformed into houses, triangles masquerade as sails, and fish are comprised of diamonds. There is a seemingly endless supply of shapes that are buried like treasures in the sea and surrounding town.


As evidenced by the interior photos above and below, the illustrations are beautifully bright, which is very attractive to young readers. For parents, it is fascinating to see how all the items are carefully crafted from materials. Small squares of blue patterned fabrics are sewn together into a patchwork of a sea, cream colored cottons make up the ship sails, and a host of bright materials form the fish.


The attention paid to details is what makes this book extra special. The result is an excellent tool for teaching children shape recognition. A shape chart on the first page details the nine shapes the readers should be looking for. Make shape learning fun for your toddler with this jewel of a book.

For a great gift, pair with . . .

Ship Shapes Opposites Puzzle from Mudpuppy. Teach children about opposites above and below the water with this two-sided nautical puzzle. The delightful illustrations match the book exactly. Sturdy, easily manipulated pieces make building pre-reading and fine motor skills fun! Nine double-sided pieces included. Finished puzzle measures 11 x 14 inches. $9.99