Welcome to the Blog Tour for If I Were a Tiger by Caroline Coleman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I’m delighted to have Caroline on the blog today to chat about this adorable picture book!
IF I WERE A TIGER by Caroline Coleman
GENRE: Christian Children’s Picture Book
PUBLISHER: WaterBrook
RELEASE DATE: October 25, 2022
PAGES: 41
A whimsical and playful rhyming picture book about a young boy who imagines himself as a tiger to overcome his fears — only to realize that he can trust in God.
Meet Tim Bone. He has a big imagination, and when it roams wild, he’s afraid of a lot of things. He’s scared of the moon and the wailing typhoon, and he won’t wear his sneakers because he fears hidden creatures. Tim’s nervous at home, at school, and at play!
Fed up with being frightened, Tim comes up with a bold He’s going to become a tiger so he can be fiercer than his fears! There’s just one If he’s a tiger, he can’t be Tim. Could there be a better solution? What if Tim puts his trust in God—who made both boys and tigers—instead?
If I Were a Tiger invites kids of all ages to live in the comforting truth that no one has to carry their fears alone, and offers the reminder that God is only a prayer away.
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Hi Caroline! Welcome to the blog!
Caroline: I’m allergic to fur, so I love them all—from afar.
Carrie: aww that’s sad 🙁
Caroline: Coffee! I used to have a blog called A Girl Needs her Coffee. It was about joy. Because coffee brings me joy.
Carrie: i see the logic there 🙂
Caroline: Oceans with mountains. Hanalei Bay in Kauai comes to mind. To swim with views of volcanic cliffs is a beautiful thing. My husband and I also once did a beautiful hike from Mount Tam down to the ocean and back up. I picture those views whenever I can’t sleep.
Carrie: yes please!!!
Caroline: I love books, all books, in any form. I do love printed ones best, because I underline anything beautiful and revisit those passages often.
Carrie: I underline on my kindle but it’s not the same lol
Q: Around here I like to say that reading is my superpower. If YOU had a superpower, what would it be?
Caroline: Flying. I fly in my dreams and often wonder if everyone else does, too. I feel like God made us to fly. Reading, writing, running, laughing with friends—all these things make me feel like I’m flying.
Carrie: i love that!! Except for running… running makes me feel like i’m DYING, not flying haha
Q: Which books are “on your nightstand”?
Caroline: Too many to count! The next five in my lineup are: (1) Ray Bradbury’s 100 best short stories; (2) Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House (I’m halfway through); (3) Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas; (4) Foster by Claire Keegan and (5) Ship Fever by Andrea Barrett.
Carrie: My husband would go for the Ray Bradbury book!
Q: Writing spaces are as diverse as authors and books. Where is your favorite space to write?
Caroline: Virginia Woolf said it best: I need a room with a view.
Carrie: indeed!
Q: What inspired you to write If I Were a Tiger?
Caroline: The first week of the pandemic, I was determined to have a joy project. I believe God brings good out of bad. I put aside trying to write The Great American Novel, sat in a comfy chair with a pad of watercolor paper and played with the line from the William Blake poem: “Tyger, Tyger burning bright, in the forest of the night.”
Carrie: we all needed to lean into joy and God’s goodness during that time!
Q: How long did the process take from the time you started writing If I Were a Tiger until you held the finished product in your hand? What surprised you about the process?
Caroline: I wrote the first draft March 2020 and it was released October 2022: two and a half years later. In picture book world, that’s fast. I wasn’t surprised exactly, but more delighted, by what a collaborative process it was. It truly takes a village. First my amazing agent, Alice Fugate, gave me edits. My editor, Bunmi Ishola, gave more edits. We had wonderful zoom calls with the illustrator, Nadya Bonten-Slenders, who lives in the Netherlands, and she had more questions. Other people at Waterbrook had edits. The entire process made it a better product and it was a treat to work with such talented creative people.
Carrie: that’s really interesting!
Q: What do you most want readers to take away from If I Were a Tiger?
Caroline: I want everyone to know that they are huggable and lovable—even if they sometimes roar!
Carrie: yes!!
Thank you so much for taking time to talk with me! 🙂 Before we say goodbye for today, tell us what‘s coming up next for you.
Caroline: I love to write for all ages—as evidenced by my historical novel Loving Soren. So I’m excited that a short story of mine called “The Lost Ring” was bought last week by Image Journal—especially as that story is the first chapter of a novel I’ve been working on for seven years called The Swans. It was such a lovely affirmation, when I needed it most. I just turned in my grades (I teach fiction at Hunter College) and the moment I finish answering these wonderful questions, I plan to roll up my sleeves and get back to work on The Swans!
Caroline Coleman‘s debut picture book, IF I WERE A TIGER, was recently released by Waterbrook Press, a Christian imprint of Penguin Random House. Her novel, LOVING SOREN (B&H 2005), tells the true story of the woman who loved the Danish Christian philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. She has an English degree from Princeton University, a fiction MFA from Brooklyn College and law degrees from Columbia Law School and Christ Church, Oxford University. She used to be a lawyer and now teaches English literature as an adjunct to the English department at Hunter College in New York City, where she lives with her family.
Connect with Caroline by visiting carolinecolemanbooks.com to follow her on social media and sign up for blog updates.
(2) winners will receive a Stuffed Tiger Nightlight, a print copy of If I Were a Tiger, and a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 5, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 12, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
This giveaway is hosted by JustRead Tours, not RimSP
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
What about you? What makes you want to read If I Were a Tiger by Caroline Coleman?
My grandson would love it.
Thanks for sharing!
Great interview. Cute book.
This would be greatly enjoyed by my grandchildren.
Thank You for the review.
Marion
This sounds like a cute book love the cover!
Sounds like a good kids book.
Great interview and book!!