posted on 09 Sep 2025

Tiger’s Last Roar by Harriet Howe, illustrated by Katie Cottle

A long time ago I used to teach child-care students at a local FE College. We were expected to cover a huge range of content to prepare them for working with young children and their families but the two hour session I remember most vividly was ‘ Death of a Pet’. I can remember following a tried and tested lesson plan that emphasised the importance of using this experience to even help prepare children for the more traumatic death of a grandparent or other elderly relative. I can remember thinking that this was a sensitive subject that needed very careful handing. I have since come across quite a lot of picture books that attempt to help with death, and not all of them have been done with the required finesse. I am pleased to report that this one manages to cover a range of feelings associated with loss and the need to build on happy memories as part of any grieving.

I liked the positivity of the book cover that shows the relationship between a smiling girl and a rather elderly looking tiger as they look at one another surrounded by a vibrant jungle landscape. My four year old friend, Freya wondered why they were both wearing crowns and whether the title suggested that the tiger was going to lose her voice because she was ill? We then relished the front end-papers that showed them playing together in the luscious long grass.

Tiger and Mae are introduced as ‘Queens of the Jungle’ with plenty more glimpses of their exciting adventures leaping and creeping together until teatime is announced and we realised that the jungle was just one of many imaginative games. Freya pointed out that the Tiger was actually a much loved pet cat and the two friends are shown enjoying a very special life together.

Time passes and Tiger gets increasingly tired until the inevitable day when she doesn’t respond to the call for tea. She is shown curled up in the corner of the garden and then the turn of the page shows Mae looking sad and then very angry. We looked for a long time at the next double page spread where she roars in evident despair - what a powerful illustration. Freya explained to me quietly that the cat was probably dead, but I was impressed that Mae’s complicated reactions to this awful fact is very well paced. Too often, picture books on this tricky subject diminish the time in which it takes to come to terms with the loss and move too quickly to a happy resolution. Eventually Mae can focus on recovering from her sorrow and moving forward with enjoying life again. I liked the way in which her Mum is shown to be patient, loving and playful as they share memories together.

This engaging picture books concludes with some very helpful advice about how to support a child through the loss of a pet. I would certainly recommend this to all parents and practitioners - I wish that it had been around for my childcare students. Published by Bonnier Books UK in time forNational Pet Memorial Day on September 14th, it should be available to buy from your local independent bookshop who will be happy to order if not already on their shelves.

 

Karen Argent

September 2025