TEACHING GUIDE

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Tiger’s parents, aid workers in a foreign country wrecked by war, decide to
leave when the political situation becomes so volatile that they fear for their
child’s safety. On the day of the family’s departure, Tiger rescues a fish from
the muddy waters and insists that they take it along. The fish becomes a
symbol of hope for the family as they make their long trek to the border.
Food and water are scarce, and an encounter with “fighting men” threatens
the family’s survival, but their faith in their ability to endure gets them to the
border where an airplane is waiting to return them to their own country.

TEACHING IDEAS

Some of Tiger’s village friends are lucky enough to go to a
neighboring country to live in a refugee camp. Ask students to take
a virtual field trip to a refugee camp (www.refugeecamp.org). What
are the greatest needs of these camps? What organizations are
giving aid to them? Ask students to find out ways they can help.

AWARDS

An ALA Notable Children’s Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book
A Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Prepared by Pat Scales, Director of Library Services, South Carolina Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities, Greenville, SC.