Tiger vs. Nightmare

by Emily Tetri (Author) Emily Tetri (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Tiger is a very lucky kid: she has a monster living under her bed. Every night, Tiger and Monster play games until it's time for lights out. Of course, Monster would never try to scare Tiger--that's not what best friends do. But Monster needs to scare someone...it's a monster, after all. So while Tiger sleeps, Monster scares all of her nightmares away. Thanks to her friend, Tiger has nothing but good dreams. But waiting in the darkness is a nightmare so big and mean that Monster can't fight it alone. Only teamwork and a lot of bravery can chase this nightmare away.

In this charming graphic novel for young readers, cartoonist Emily Tetri proves that unlikely best friends can be an unbeatable team, even against the scariest monsters.

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$18.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
Rich details enhance the setting inconspicuously: Tiger's parents, also tigers, run a repair shop for flying cars; one parent is Dad while the other is of undesignated gender. A visual and emotional symphony.

ALA/Booklist

With an empowering message, beautifully dynamic artwork, and an invitingly open format, this is a natural choice for kids making the transition from picture books to graphic novels.

None

Tetri brings the reader not just into the action of the story but into its emotion as well. Looking at the art on these pages, the reader feels the victory over the nightmare, right along with Tiger and Monster.

Publishers Weekly

Tiger's sweet-tempered parents indulge her talk about the hungry monster who lives underneath her bed ("It loves curry!" she tells them). But Monster is real, and after they play board games and Tiger goes to sleep, it earns its dinner by chasing away Tiger's nightmares. One night, an extra-horrible nightmare with a bleached skull proves too much for Monster. The next night is no better, nor the next. With Monster's loyal support, Tiger confronts the nightmare herself. It's a story about fear, both the way it can paralyze ("Nope," says Monster, hunched miserably under Tiger's covers) and the way it can be overcome ("You're in my head! You're not real!" Tiger yells at the specter). Newcomer Tetri's pencil-and-watercolor panels capture Tiger's engaging, cublike features and daytime world in warm shades of gold and olive, while the epic battles that rage at night wash across the page in tidal sweeps of gray and blue. The Jetsons-style sci-fi setting adds another dimension of fun. Seamless visual storytelling and an impressive emotional range make this a notable debut. Ages 6-10. (Nov.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 1-3--In this endearing graphic novel, an anthropomorphic tiger cub's best friend is the monster under her bed. Tiger's parents think Monster is imaginary, but every evening, they let Tiger bring Monster dinner. Monster eats, the two of them play games, and when Tiger goes to sleep, Monster scares the nightmares away and makes sure the little cub gets a good night's rest. But when a nightmare that even Monster can't handle appears, Tiger has to learn to face her fears herself. The characters are adorable, and Tiger's world is original and futuristic, with flying vehicles and industrial-style buildings. The graphics are in gorgeous full color, with an almost blurred watercolor effect, beautifully conveying both delightfully creepy nightmare scenes and vibrant daytime illustrations. An image of intrepid little Tiger staring up at the nightmare, a creature with a shadowy body and a horned skull, is especially striking. The use of panels of a multitude of sizes enriches the narrative. The speech balloons are particularly well done, adding dimension to every mood or situation. The vocabulary is approachable--kids will enjoy reading this on their own or with an adult. VERDICT Tetri has crafted a sweet, uplifting tale of best friends, imagination, bravery, and teamwork. Highly recommended for fans of Lorena Alvarez's Nightlights and anyone who has, or remembers having, nighttime terrors.--Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A 2019 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book

A 2018 Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Graphic Novel of 2018

"Real or not, nightmares affect us, and so the true victory in Tetri's book comes in unlikely collaborations and creativity in the face of terror." —The New York Times

"The art gives the title the comfort of a younger picture book, but the story itself deals directly with the emotional growth of growing kids, as they wrestle with the anxieties that come with shifting challenges—in sleeping or otherwise—that must be confronted when growing up." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

Emily Tetri

Emily Tetri grew up in St Louis, Missouri, where her childhood was mostly spent drawing, making up stories, and running feral outdoors. She went to the University of Southern California where she graduated with a major in animation. She would later work as a background designer and painter for TV animation. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she draws and makes up stories for a living, but continues to run around outdoors with her dog every chance she gets.

Emily is the author of Tiger vs. Nightmare.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781626725355
Lexile Measure
500
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
First Second
Publication date
November 06, 2018
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV010000 - Juvenile Fiction | Bedtime & Dreams
JUV052000 - Juvenile Fiction | Monsters
JUV008050 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Animals
Library of Congress categories
Bedtime
Sleep
Graphic novels
Monsters
Tiger
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Nightmares
Humorous comics
Geisel Medal (Dr. Seuss)
Honor Book 2019 - 2019
Kirkus Reviews
Best Picture Book of the Year 2018
School Library Journal
A Best Graphic Novel 2018

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