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Tiger #1
Tiger by the Tail
Eric Walters' timeless series about the zoo next door is now available from Scholastic Canada! When tornado-force winds force Sarah and Nicholas Fraser to seek shelter in a neighbour's barn, they discover that the retired circus trainer has some unusual farm a cheetah, an ape, a python, and a tiger! Fascinated by the exotic animals, Sarah and Nicholas help out with their training and care. But when a band of mischievous teens cut the chains to the tiger's cage and he escapes, they must help track him down before the story makes front-page news. This classic series from bestselling author Eric Walters is newly revised and redesigned, and more timely than ever.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1999
6 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
163 books916 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 10, 2018
En schysst bok för 9-11-åringar. Inte mer än det. Lite i Enid Blytons anda skulle man nog kunna säga.
March 20, 2020
I didn't like this book and the only reason I read it was because I had nothing to do.
September 1, 2021
Calvin my beloved <3
December 27, 2021
I have a signed copy! Cute story for younger audience but I enjoy books like that from time to time. I learned that cheetahs won't actually "hunt" you. fun and quick read.
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January 5, 2022Rereading childhood novels
May 13, 2009
MrMccurdy was tageting to Sarah and Nicholas with a gun but acutally it was'nt a real one it was only one who putted you in sleep. Mr.Mccurdy takes them up to the second floor or something. They meat a female leopard, an parrot and a monkey. Mr.Mcurdy knew the grandmother of Sarah and Nicholas, he (Mrmccurdy) finded the grandmother of a beautiful woman when he and she was young. The mokey was drinking coke and gave the two kids as well a coke. The leopard was lzing on the sofa and was sleeping. And the parot was being root to MrMccurdy. Sarah explained what happend to MrMccurdy. Afterwoods Nicholas and Sarah went home. We are reading this now, I cind of dont like it.
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May 13, 2009tiger by the tail chapter 2
in tiger by the tail:
Mr.Mccurdy fased a gun to Sarah .Nicholas was heiding fore the old man.
then Sarah told wat has happend then the old man took Sarah and Nicholas to his home.
then the old man said to Nicholas hold the gun fore me then Sarah said no!! he is not aloud to hold the gum from his mam.
Why not asced Mr.Mccurdy.
the they went insite and they see a cheeta
then Mr.mccurdy looked to Nichlas nee cause it was bleading.
then the old man told a story when he was 14 years old.
the old man loved the grendmother of Nicholas and Sarah.
and furder I dit not read.
in tiger by the tail:
Mr.Mccurdy fased a gun to Sarah .Nicholas was heiding fore the old man.
then Sarah told wat has happend then the old man took Sarah and Nicholas to his home.
then the old man said to Nicholas hold the gun fore me then Sarah said no!! he is not aloud to hold the gum from his mam.
Why not asced Mr.Mccurdy.
the they went insite and they see a cheeta
then Mr.mccurdy looked to Nichlas nee cause it was bleading.
then the old man told a story when he was 14 years old.
the old man loved the grendmother of Nicholas and Sarah.
and furder I dit not read.
October 22, 2014
I thought this was a very good book because of how detailed and interesting it was. A mother and two siblings by the names of Sarah and Nicholas - I think - inherited their grandmothers farm when she past away and met one of their neighbours "Mr. McCurdy" who was an odd man with interesting animals on his farm. An adventure starts when one of McCurdy's animals gets loose from some meddling teenagers who let him free.
Currently reading
May 13, 2009COOL
May 30, 2009
My grade 4/5 class adored this, and his other stories.
June 3, 2015
I grew up reading this series an I absolutely loved it!
October 2, 2014
This story is about a girl and her brother they have just moved when they meet their new neighbor and discover he has a tiger their lives get interesting
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February 20, 2015Very good book.... Not gonna spoil.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews