What it’s about:
Little Tiger and Little Bear live happily together in a cosy little house by the river. One day, Little Bear finds a wooden crate that smells of bananas and has the word « Panama » written on it. The two friends immediately decide that Panama must be the most beautiful place in the world. And that’s where they want to go!
So off they set, taking a fishing rod, a cooking pot and plenty of enthusiasm with them. Along the way, they meet different animals, ask for directions and have all sorts of little adventures. The trouble is, nobody really seems to know where Panama is.
Eventually, they arrive somewhere that seems absolutely wonderful. There’s a little house, a river and everything they could possibly need to be happy.
Why we love it:
Janosch manages to tell us something quite profound through a wonderfully simple little story: sometimes you have to travel far to discover just how lovely home really is. Little Tiger and Little Bear are wonderfully innocent, optimistic and perhaps a little bit silly. They haven’t the faintest idea where Panama is, but off they go anyway, full of excitement and curiosity. And along the way, they remind us that happiness doesn’t require much: a cosy home, something nice to eat and, above all, a good friend by your side. It’s a funny, charming adventure for children, but also a lovely little lesson for adults about friendship, contentment and what really matters in life. Perhaps the nicest message of all is that happiness isn’t necessarily waiting for us somewhere far away. Sometimes it’s been right beside us all along.
Where to buy:
It’s a classic that you should find pretty much anywhere, including here:
Orell Füssli (German version)
Orell Füssli (English version)
Payot (French version)
