Ravi's roar by Tom Percival

Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408892183.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Temper tantrums, Family, Size, Emotions. Ravi is the youngest in his family. When the family goes to the park, the others are able to run and jump and play with the equipment, but Ravi is too short to reach the things he wants to try. He is not only the youngest of the four siblings, but also the smallest. He can not reach the monkey bars, or walk across the logs that are too widely spaced for his small legs, and he definitely can not go on the big slide. But the last straw occurs when he goes to get an ice cream and finds there are none left.
He becomes very cross, so cross that his face becomes hotter and redder, a tail appears behind him, his hands develop claws and his face becomes striped, and he can roar like a tiger. His tiger attributes are very handy, stomping around the park scaring people from the seat he wants, or getting an ice cream of his own to eat. But sitting by himself he realises that no one wants to play with him, and he needs to think about what to do next.
All children will recognise the emotional turmoil and eventual temper tantrum put on by Ravi. Most will have succumbed themselves or seen others lose their tempers at home, in the classroom or in the playground. This book shows them that it is not unusual, and gives a very satisfying resolution to the problem. Ravi loses his temper, but he realises that there are consequences and a way of controlling that temper for the betterment of his family. And with a neat twist, the author shows that there are some situations where a small show of fierceness is appropriate.
A wonderful fluorescent green cover will attract readers to this book, the pages inside showing a close and loving family dealing with the problem of Ravi's temper.
The illustrations promote the close ties of the family, Dad engaged and helpful, the family unit doing things together. Readers will love picking out the things they can do in the local park, recognise the different people that use the park, and emulate the children's activities there.
Fran Knight