Heart of a Tiger [Hardcover]

Marsha Diane Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995 | Age Level: 3 and up

"Number Four," a gray kitten determined to earn the right to have a powerful name before "Naming Day" comes, follows the path of a great Bengal tiger into the jungle, where he learns important lessons about size, wisdom, and courage.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?At a special ceremony that takes place one year after their birth, animals choose names for themselves. The only stipulation is that all of the creatures must agree that the name is "fair and honest." Number Four, a small gray housecat, seems destined to be called "Smallest of All"?until, a week before Naming Day, he goes into the jungle in search of Tiger, to learn to be like him. Despite the ridicule of the Bengal and others, he proves himself to be both clever and brave. Arnold's picture-book debut is, on the whole, impressive. While some of her descriptive passages are lovely, others occasionally rely too heavily on adjectives and adverbs. But overall, the story's strong suit is child appeal. The glowing watercolors done in jewel-like tones (perfect for the Indian setting and the lush jungle scenes) are particularly appealing. In fact, the colors, mood, and two-dimensional look are all characteristic of Indian art. An author's note states that, while the animals' naming custom is, of course, fabricated, she has based it on similar customs in various cultures around the world. This very satisfying story will lend itself to group sharing.?Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This book is a wonderful book to give children confidence and hope. --Jennifer's Corner by Jennifer LB Leese --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803716966
• ISBN-13: 978-0803716964
• Product Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 20 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,012,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marsha Diane Arnold is an award-winning author who the media has called "a born storyteller".

She's written eleven books, some magazine articles, a few poems, and when her children were young, over 500 newspaper columns! The column was called "homegrown treasures" She's received picture book honors as well, including The Ridgeway Award for Best First Book, Children's Choice awards, IRA Distinguished Book, and Smithsonian Notable Book.

Her two newest books show the range of her writing ability. The sweet Family Choice Award winner, Hugs on the Wind, is a very, very quiet book and the uproarious Northern California Book Award nominee Roar of a Snore is a very, very LOUD book.

Marsha travels nationally and internationally as a speaker for schools, conferences, and author festivals. When she's not visiting schools in her travels, she's traveling for fun. Recent trips include China, Alaska, and the Galapagos Islands. Marsha is currently working on a picture book about the Galapagos with a Galapagos nature guide who was born and raised there.

In 2008, Marsha was invited to be one of seven artists involved in Sequoia National Parks Foundation's 2008 Artists in the Back Country, the only children's author ever invited. Part of that involvement was a week at 11,000 feet at Foxtail Camp in Sequoia National Park, where she, along with a National Geographic photographer, a Hugo Award winner, painters, and photographers walked the hills, talked about their experiences, and were inspired by the magnificent landscape. The program hopes to rekindle the American tradition of enhancing public awareness of and appreciation for our national parks and natural world through the arts.

Her vision is to inspire readers to follow their own unique dreams and to have fun doing it! Talking about this with her young fans reminds her to keep following her own dreams, even though she's 60, not 6. "We should never stop dreaming!" she says.

You can find out more about Marsha and her books at her website, www.marshadianearnold.com, or her blog, www.storymagician.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twenty out of twenty kids thought it was wonderful!, April 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Heart of a Tiger (Hardcover)

This book is just marvelous! Little Four(the little gray kitten on the cover) follows Bengal into the jungle to learn how to be like a tiger, so that he may earn his name on naming day. I was struck by how Four perseveres, and eventually triumphs, despite all those around him who doubt. This book has everything; exciting action, great moral (without being preachy)and the illustrations are as magical as the rest of the book.(Be sure to look for the hidden tigers!) Positive, empowering and beautiful, it's everything a picture book should be. I read it to my son's 2nd grade class; it was a hit, it really got them excited and talking.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finding your name and having it "fit" you, March 18, 2009

By 

KSL "emma-and-me" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart of a Tiger (Hardcover)

This book is set in India but could also occur in many other places like China, Africa, South America, Australia, Japan and the Native Americans when parents choose not name their child at birth but sometimes months or year later when their child develops her or his personality or names the child in the order in which they where born like in Ghana, Japan and also in China.

Four little kittens are told that they must no longer go by their names of how they where born 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th but must choose their new name. Their name must fit them and all the animals in the forest must agree it is honest and fair name fitting of the kitty. Kittens 1 - 3 have no problem finding their names, but kitten number 4 the runt of his family has no idea of what kind of name he should have. He definitely knows he doesn't want to be be known as " little anything"!

One day kitten #4 sees a Bengal tiger and things this is the animal to name himself after, he wants to be magnificent one or silent walker or golden splendor and asks the tiger if he can learn from him. The tiger says no, but kitten does not take no for an answer and does follow tiger. In the end he saves the tigers life and finds his perfect name.

The book's painting where done in watercolor and are stunning! A definite must have story for your families library and a great lesson to be learned .

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great bedtime story, November 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Heart of a Tiger (Hardcover)

I sent this book and "Quick Quack Quick" by the same author, to my niece and nephew. They really enjoyed it, and my sister enjoyed reading it to them. Many thanks for such a great story.