There's a Tiger on the Train
by Mariesa Dulak
art by Rebecca Cobb
Faber & Faber
2024
2024
There's a Tiger on the Train is a cute children's picture book about a little boy entertaining himself with his imagination while he and his dad ride the train to the beach. Dad is on his phone, and won't do more than glance up from it until the train arrives, which means our young protagonist will have to amuse himself.
Which he does! He imagines a tiger in a top hat, crocodiles just back from a swim, playful piglets, tea-drinking hippos, pugs in glamorous dresses... In the end, the train reaches the beach, and he gets what he wants most off, a chance to play with his dad, who gives him his full attention now that they're there.
I imagine a lot of kids can relate to a parent who's not really paying attention because they're on their phone, and everyone has had times when they're bored and have to entertain themselves. Long trips where you're a passenger are a perfect time to daydream. And dad comes through in the end! Which doesn't always happen in real life, so I was kind of relieved that things worked out here. I guess I shouldn't really be surprised a kids' book had a happy ending, but I'm still glad it did.
The text of the book is written in 4-line stanzas with A-B-C-B rhyming structure. There's some neat typography where changes in the font or text size herald the arrival of a new set of animals or give voice to the train's rattles and clanks. The art reminds me of a kid's color pencil drawings, which I'm sure is a deliberate effect, because it encourages young readers to try out the same style. I also think it's worth mentioning that the boy in the book is Black and his dad is White. The Snowy Day is great, but it's only one book; There's a Tiger on the Train gives children of color another opportunity to see themselves portrayed in a very relatable, universal kind of story.
Which he does! He imagines a tiger in a top hat, crocodiles just back from a swim, playful piglets, tea-drinking hippos, pugs in glamorous dresses... In the end, the train reaches the beach, and he gets what he wants most off, a chance to play with his dad, who gives him his full attention now that they're there.
I imagine a lot of kids can relate to a parent who's not really paying attention because they're on their phone, and everyone has had times when they're bored and have to entertain themselves. Long trips where you're a passenger are a perfect time to daydream. And dad comes through in the end! Which doesn't always happen in real life, so I was kind of relieved that things worked out here. I guess I shouldn't really be surprised a kids' book had a happy ending, but I'm still glad it did.
The text of the book is written in 4-line stanzas with A-B-C-B rhyming structure. There's some neat typography where changes in the font or text size herald the arrival of a new set of animals or give voice to the train's rattles and clanks. The art reminds me of a kid's color pencil drawings, which I'm sure is a deliberate effect, because it encourages young readers to try out the same style. I also think it's worth mentioning that the boy in the book is Black and his dad is White. The Snowy Day is great, but it's only one book; There's a Tiger on the Train gives children of color another opportunity to see themselves portrayed in a very relatable, universal kind of story.
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