Tiffy’s Tango a  children’s book featuring Tiffy the giraffe is a nice addition to the read for discussion books I used in my Osage County First Grade Classroom.

Tiffy is so bored. She has nothing special to do for the Circus Tortolli.

She is a giraffe and that is unusual enough. Susana the Tiger Tamer assures Tiffy they will be moving to a new town tomorrow.

Tiffy worries the new town will be just as boring, perhaps she has no special talents to send the children into screams of delight.

Tiffy chats with Flying Freddo the tiger, but his job is too dangerous.  She chats with Diving David, but he is given fish as a treat.  Tiffy does care for fish.  So Tiffy turns to Noisy Norman the chimp; but he uses too much equipment in his motorcycle act and Tiffy does not even have a driver’s license.

Tiffy decides she will learn to stand on her head. She practices and practices but before she can perfect the headstand Signor Tortolli notices what she is doing.

What will happen next? Will he be mad? Will Tiffy ever learn to do the headstand? Will she ever hear the screams of delight from the children?

The book does ends on a happy note as the children cheer and cheer even though Tiffy never does learn to do that headstand.

Tiffy’s Tango Writer Zang and Illustrator Panse have done it again!

The talented pair have teamed up once again to present an enchanting tale of a young giraffe who is determined to carve a niche for herself in the circus.

Tiffy wants to be more than just the ‘box office’ giraffe who stands around and does nothing.

When her original plan does not work out Tiffy does not sulk, she moves right into another strategy. Writer Zang’s carefully prepared text is excellent, well crafted and very pleasing to read.

Artisan Panse does an admirable job presenting just the right illustration for each page. Both illustrations and tale are sure to delight children ages 3-9.

Tiffy’s Tango is an entertaining tale I  happily used in my own First Grade during the last decade of my classroom career.

This is a read-to book for the younger set: the 3-5 year olds.

Is a read with help for the 5-7 set

and a read alone for strong 7’s – 9s.

Names, and some vocabulary should be taught/introduced prior to youngsters reading alone.

A wordlist in the back of the book along with target audience listed would be a benefit for parents, home and school teachers as they choose books for use in their child’s library or the teaching setting.

While many paper books are longer: 30 or so pages, I think the 22 page format used in Tiffy’s Tango is a good choice for children to view on a computer monitor.

The pdf format I received for review opens easily, pictures do not slow the motion overmuch which is good.

Children are not known for having patience, they do want to get right into the reading and ‘looking’ part of the book.

I like the author/illustrator information kept to the back pages of the work. Children are not usually interested in the information.

Reviewed by: Molly's Reviews

30+ yeasr classroom teacher

 Author: . Tina Zang

Illustrator: Sonal Panse

Line/Publisher: . Writers Exchange E Publishing

Release Date: . 2002

ISBN 1 920741 402 eBook Formats