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The Tiger Who Came to Tea

By Judith Kerr

When a gigantic tiger arrives for tea, what will Sophie’s family have for dinner?

charming whimsical delightful imaginative

Pageticker community rating

Average score: 4.73

From 239 readers

What do our readers think of The Tiger Who Came to Tea? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children enjoy the tiger’s silly behaviour, huge appetite and the fun of an ordinary tea party turning into something wonderfully unexpected. They generally find the tiger funny rather than frightening, although some children are puzzled by the old-fashioned family details and the story’s open-ended ending.

What does the Pageticker team say about The Tiger Who Came to Tea?

We love this book’s simple, brilliantly funny idea and Judith Kerr’s warm, expressive illustrations. The tiger’s extraordinary appetite turns an ordinary tea party into a playful adventure, while Sophie’s calm curiosity makes the story especially enjoyable to share aloud. A charming classic for young children.

Genres

Animals Classics Friendship/Family

What is The Tiger Who Came to Tea about?

One day, Sophie and her mummy are having tea when a friendly, enormous tiger knocks at the door. Invited inside, the tiger joins their tea party and hungrily devours all the food and drink in the house! With nothing left to eat, Sophie and her family must find a new plan for dinner. This delightful tale is full of surprise and gentle humour, perfect for sharing with young children.

About the author

Judith Kerr was a much-loved author and illustrator who created wonderful books for children. She is best known for her classic stories like 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' and the Mog series about a mischievous cat. Judith’s stories are enjoyed by families everywhere and continue to inspire young readers with their imagination and warmth.

Discussion ideas around The Tiger Who Came to Tea

A surprising visitor: How do you think Sophie feels when the tiger arrives, and what would you do if an unexpected visitor came to your home?

Sharing and manners: The tiger is welcomed into the house even though he eats and drinks a great deal. What does the story suggest about being kind and polite to guests?

Food and appetite: What food would you offer the tiger, and why do you think he wants to eat so much?

When plans change: How does Sophie’s family solve the problem when there is nothing left for dinner, and what can we do when an ordinary day does not go as planned?

The world of the story: Which details in Sophie’s home seem different from homes today, and what do those details tell us about the time when the story was written?

Pages

32 pages

Reading age

Picture Book (2-7)

This edition

2006

First published

1968

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