Tiger Time by Kama Einhorn
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 29th 2019
ISBN: 1328767078
Pages: 144
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This tale of life in an animal sanctuary is told from the point of view of Kamal the tiger.  Kamal, along with 500 big cats and other animals, live at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado.

This is a very colorful book with lots of photos and brief chapters outlining the rescue, recovery, rehabilitation and “release” of animals.   The goal of the sanctuary is to enable animals to live out their life, healthy and happy, in as natural a habitat as possible.

The author runs the sanctuary, and is very much opposed to zoos, circuses and shows.  I agree that animal “acts” in circuses and shows should be a thing of the past, but I have a problem with the sweeping generalizations applied to all shows and zoos.  Modern zoos and educational animal presentations have a place in the world. IF done properly and humanely, they help to educate and motivate the children and visitors to protect our environment and these endangered animals.

The chapters can be a little difficult to follow.  The author, speaking as Kamal, jumps to talking about other animals in the sanctuary and then jumps back to talking about the tiger issues.  I often found myself going back a page to see if I missed a heading or chapter change.

This book is very long; it took me quite a few sittings to get through. The audience it is aiming at is grades 4- 6.  There is a glossary, bibliography and index in the back of the book.  This small 140- page hardcover is durable, with lots of photos and text boxes, and is fairly easy to read.

This is not a bad book, but I would not recommend it, as I don’t feel it is balanced well.   I believe the author shows her bias for sanctuaries, and possible non-involvement with modern zoos.

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine