Lee, Gee Eun. Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower, The. Lee Gee Eun, Illus. Translated from the Korean by Aerin Park. Levine Querido, 8/2024. [70]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-64614-459-4. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.
Grumpy Tiger sprouts a dandelion flower on his tail. Tail-Flower is friendly and quickly liked by all the animals, who did not like it when Tiger was demanding and scary. After many efforts to separate, they begin to tolerate and then like each other, and even do things that help the other animals. Told via a mix of graphic panels and full-page spreads, this long picture book reads like a folktale. Readers first meet an elderly narrator at the start, and after hearing the story from many moons ago, learn the moral to the story: be kind to others. Lee Gee Eun’s intricate digital illustrations masterfully convey the feelings and actions of the main and secondary characters, with clear colors reflecting moods as well as Tail-Flower’s eventual end of life. Useful for discussions about getting along, changing seasons, and endings.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library