The humour is a welcome element to the book, as it helps the reader to enter into the kitten’s predicament, rather than focus on facts. Although the book is an enjoyable read as it is, if the author had given each species of cat more of the individuality she gave the jaguar, the kitten’s journey would have been even more engaging. I also found a few small editorial errors, though nothing that interferes with the enjoyment of the story.
The illustrations do their part in bringing the story to life. Oddly, the illustrator, Rachel MaHaffey, is not noted in the book’s credits, though her full page water colour illustrations of each type of cat are charming. MaHaffey chose to lean more to the realistic side than cartoon side when depicting the cats, though some types have more realistic details than others. Many of the illustrations are really lovely, with Bobcat one of my favourites. Included in each picture is an exhibit information board giving key facts on the animal, including its level of endangerment. The boards fit beautifully into the zoo setting and are a nice way to pack more information in without bogging down the story.
The Tiniest Tiger will appeal to nature-loving children and will also please conservation-minded parents. McGonagle got many elements right in her debut effort and I look forward to her next story.
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