BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: Mr. Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon (available here)
Author: Sally Gardner
Illustrator: Nick Maland
Publisher: Zephyr/Head of Zeus
Publication Date: May 2018
Most Suitable for: Years 3-4
Reviewed By: Tami Wylie, Primary Teacher
“Once upon a time, on an island left off the map of the world, a little girl called Betsy K. Glory meets the mysterious Mr. Tiger.” Thus begins the adventure of a lifetime for a cast of the most vivacious characters you could ever want to meet. Filled with gloriously vivid description and beautiful illustrations, this book is a fantastic tale that had me hooked from the first few lines. Uniquely, this story is told by the letters of the alphabet acting as the narrator, giving the story an unusual twist.
Betsy K. Glory lives on an island that has been left off the map of the world. She has the perfect life, living with her father, the ice cream maker in their house over-looking the harbour. Betsy’s mother lives in the sea nearby as she is a mermaid! One day news arrives that Mr. Tiger’s Circus is coming to the island. His arrival sets the wheels in motion for a daring plan to save a princess and her people from a terrible fate.
With some help from a giant named Ivan, the moon, special berries, some tiny people and some ice cream, can Mr. Tiger and Betsy save the day?
This book is filled with vocabulary that provides stunning description to fuel the imagination of even the most reluctant reader. The array of larger-than-life characters and a fantastic story will appeal to everyone. I am very much looking forward to sharing this with my class of Year 4s. I know that they are going to love it!
Curriculum Links: Descriptive writing, settings, adventure stories, oceans and seas topic.
NB: The book is written in a dyslexia friendly text and ink colour.
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You can order Mr Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Tami Wylie for reviewing the book.
