A merchant finds a beautiful bright stripy tiger trapped in a pit, and helps the tiger out. Then the tiger tries to eat him. Is that fair? They can’t agree, so they ask lots of other animals (and plants) whether it’s fair to repay a good deed with a bad one.

It’s a deep philosophical question for the reader, but a matter of life and death for the merchant! Melanie Williamson’s pictures of the tiger are amazing – he is beautiful but very very dangerous, and the best place for him might well be back in that pit!

Never Trust a Tiger is my adaptation of an old Korean tale, but I know similar stories (with different animals, but usually the same outcome) from lots of other countries too!
When you’ve read it, please let me know whether you would trust a tiger! And is it fair to eat the person who helped you escape?

Never Trust a Tiger is the second story in a series of six animal tales, all with incredible pictures by Melanie Williamson. The first story is called The Tortoise’s Gift and it’s out now too. The next two, about a bear and about a wolf, will be out next year!