The Idea

Snuggled into a corner of my bed, propped up by pillows, I was flipping through pictures from my trip to India, reminiscing and missing my friends. One little guy in particular made me smile whenever I saw a picture of him--and there were quite a number of them bringing back sweet memories: drawing pictures in the sand, putting lotion in my hair, crawling around on the floor together. 

And just like that, the beginnings of a story popped into my head. 

It didn't take me long to write it, lying flat on the bedroom floor, scribbling away on a crumpled legal pad. I made few revisions as the text seemed to flow from the pencil in time with the lyrical rhythm in my head. No, the story is not a poem, but when I am "in the groove" I hear the syllables for the sentences before I put the words to them. That is usually when I do my best work. 

The Little Tiger From India is a story about a little boy with a big imagination, who pretends to be a tiger. The "little tiger" rules the house until one day a stranger comes to visit. The stranger and the tiger overcome language barriers to become friends and get into some mischief together. 

It is all based on a true story that happened to me while in India, though some things are embellished or changed for story structure and simplicity.

It means a lot to me because I know the little boy it is written about and the other people involved in the story, but I don't know if the story will resonate with others who have no connection with either the country or the people in the story. I think it should though because the little boy is as curious and demanding and imaginative and rambunctious and loving as many other little boys around the world.

Maybe you will fall in love with him as I did as you see the story and illustrations take shape.