Dappled Annie and the Tigrish

by Mary McCallum, Annie Hayward (Illustrations)

A beautiful story of nature, family, bravery, and a touch of something magical. There are faces in the hedge at the end of the garden, and a nest of tiny fantails, and that's where nine-year-old Annie gets to play one hot summer while her father works up a the lighthouse. One after another, an earthquake and a terrible wind leave Annie with losses that seem irreplaceable, and her little brother Robbie emerges as the only person who can help her find what she's lost. Him and the tigrish

Genres: Friendship, Fantasy, Childrens, Nature, Adventure

136 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wee gem of a story. It is one that is going to stick with me for a while because it is just so quirky and unusual and indefinable. As a librarian who wants to be able to shelve this book In Its Place, that is a bit of a problem because it doesn't quite fit anywhere... and yet it fits everywhere!

I need to get over myself and just enjoy it for what it is - a beautiful, lyrical, fantastical story of imagination and love and bravery and fear and all the things that make a story wonderful!

Annie loves to go and sit in the hedges at the bottom of her garden... it is her sanctuary, a place of peace where she can be herself. And the plants that make up the hedge talk to her. Each section of the hedge has its own way of talking and moving and it is a beautiful thing.

A series of dramatic events lead Annie and her rascal of a brother Robbie on a wild ride to rescue a baby bird, and also their father, who works at the nearby lighthouse.

This is one out of the box and any review of it can't possibly come close to capturing its essence!

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘‘Twas kind of boring but okay

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightfully quirky book!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Annie must take care of her younger brother Robbie while her parents are busy. When a fierce wind blows away a nest with baby birds in it, it's up to Annie and her new friends Mr. and Mrs. Hedge, and the fierce tigrish to find the nest and save the nestlings. Strangely, the nest ends up being on the lighthouse where her father works. Annie must conquer her own fears and somehow climb to the top of the structure. Magical realism may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's handled very well here, and it's easy to admire Annie and applaud her new friends in nature. The story comes from New Zealand.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely flight of the imagination. I'd love to read it aloud to a group of 8-9 year olds, especially those who love pretend games and who are surrounded in nature, I can see them being transported into Annie's world. Beautifully produced and lovely to hold this is a really sweet book. Annie is a delightful character, I'm glad to have met her.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is at once delicate with lovely language and robust with a fairly taut adventure. Great for reading aloud.
The tigrish is a magical tiger who can fly and looks after the children who are searching for lost baby birds which were blown away from their garden. They are aided by another magical couple, Mr and Mrs Hedge. Sounds twee but it isn't. Certainly sweet though.

[Melissa Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is lovely but has a small audience...Soon-to-be-ten-years-old Annie lives in New Zealand, where her father tends a lighthouse and she explores nature, until one day, an earthquake comes and the trees in the hedgerow near her house not only talk but walk, leading Annie and her little brother Robbie on a grand adventure.

[Juli Morneweck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a great story! Can't wait til Tommy reads it so I can discuss it with him.

I especially love the walking bushes, Mr. and Mrs. Hedge. And Robbie! The little scoundrel!

What a great story!

Would be great for the 3rd-5th grade book club, if only they had enough copies in the Allegheny County libraries.

[pati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book.

[Kris Patrick]

I abandoned when I realized the characters Annie were talking to weren't actually people but rather bushes in a hedge.