A TIGER CALLED THOMAS

Now reissued with its third set of illustrations, this 1963 text of Zolotow’s remains timeless—not least because the people in it, uncharacteristically, are named rather than generic. Though his mother urges him to meet the passersby in his new neighborhood, young Thomas stays glued to his porch, sure that they won’t like him. But the ice is broken when he goes trick-or-treating in a tiger suit; not only does everyone turn out to be friendly, they even know his name. In a wonderful change of pace, Bluthenthal depicts Thomas as a fetchingly round-headed child with dark skin and places him in a suburban setting. These are the best illustrations yet, not only because of Thomas’s ethnicity, but because they are as direct, winsome, and clear as the story. A heartening episode to share with any shy newcomer. (Picture book. 5-7)