The best new children’s books – reviews roundup

A philosophical tiger, a bear who pretends to be a bee, strange guests for tea and love among the surfboards – all in the latest picture books and novels

Along with bears and bunnies, tigers star in a surprising number of picture books, from Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea to Catherine Rayner’s Augustus and His Smile. The latest addition to the canon is There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart (Frances Lincoln). An endearingly stroppy little girl is urged by her grandma to go to play in the garden, but remains unconvinced that it is home to the exotic creatures promised there – until she and her toy giraffe, Jeff, discover that all is not quite what it seems, especially when there’s a tiger with a philosophical bent around. Gentle humour, appealing characters – the grumpy polar bear is a particular favourite – and a striking design make for an accomplished debut.

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