Children's Author
There's a Tiger on the Train
By Mariesa Dulak & Rebecca Cobb
This text won the Faber FAB Writing Prize for Diverse writers in 2020. Rebecca Cobb is an award-winning author/illustrator who has collaborated with other authors such as Julia Donaldson, Richard Curtis and Helen Dunmore.
It’s the perfect day for a seaside trip. But who invited the Tiger in the top hat… and all those other animals? And will Dad ever look up from his phone? A rhythmic, rhyming romp about the value of living in the moment and spending quality time with those you love.
‘With a sly message about taking time out from technology, Dulak and Cobb's gorgeous new picture book centres on an extraordinary train journey boasting a jungle full of passengers.’
‘Mariesa Dulak has managed to create a picture book that is both a morality tale about mobile phones and a magical adventure. Teamed with illustrations from Rebecca Cobb, her debut is a joy.’
The Inspiration
This book was inspired by my own experience of working full time with a young family and finding it hard to get the balance right. One day I was trying to push my daughter on a swing AND deal with some urgent work emails and my daughter got very, very cross. But not with me… with my phone! I realised later that there is a name for what I was doing - ‘phubbing’ (snubbing someone due to mobile phone use).
You can buy There’s a Tiger on the Train from any of the websites below. Just click the button to order!
‘This is currently my favourite picture book. An absolute must have for classrooms and libraries.’
Reading Zone
‘I’ve often purchased books that ‘teach’ my kids about kindness, emotions, friendships etc. It’s quite nice to see the tables turned for once – in such an engaging and fun-packed way!’
@MyBookCorner
‘The action-packed train journey leads us to such a beautiful ending. I can't recommend this book enough!’
Robert Tregoning, author of Out of the Blue
‘Everything I want in a picture book! Hugely fun, wonderfully worded, gently cautionary and utterly delightful. Destined to be pulled from bookshelves again and again and again.’
Lu Fraser, author of The Littlest Yak
‘A beautiful, hilarious and visually dazzling picture book which fizzes with heart, humour and hope.’
Ian Eagleton, author of Nen and the Lonely Fisherman
‘Young children will adore finding all the delightful details in the illustrations and will be asking to go on their own train journey to see where their imagination takes them.’
Catherine Ward, author of the Emerald Forest
‘It had me chuckling along and had such a lovely satisfying ending! A classic in the making – I LOVED it!’
Catherine Emmett, author of The Dodo Who Dreamed She Could Fly
'A rhythmic, rhyming story about a train to the seaside that fills with wild animals, while a father on his phone misses everything. Exhilarating illustrations and a heartwarming last line.'
A 'Watch Out For' title in The Sunday Times
'A really lovely, vibrant book with a gentle message about putting your phone away and enjoying the time with your loved ones... This book is adorable and feels just like a children's classic. The last page hit me right in the feels... where the tiger shows the dad what's really important!'
@Charrrliiee
'I absolutely adore this new picture book! It has depth and wit, and soul. It got me right in the heart. Bravo Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb!'
@WhyCraigWhy
'Clark absolutely adores the rhymes and illustrations in this book! The story is funny, silly and fast paced to keep children engaged and the illustrations are so colourful, detailed and really, really beautiful.'
@RachelAndTheLittleBirds
'The most brilliantly told story for children of this generation.'
@l.e.t.s_read
'A funny, imaginative, illustrated delight for your little ones.'
@rare_mags
'Cuddle up with your little one and put your phone aside... Watch them hold their tummies with laughter and spend time having fun with the rhyming text and noticing how the gorgeous illustrations add to the reading experience. Highly recommended!'
Books for Children
'The most wonderful new storybook that will make you chuckle out loud and want to put your phone away in your pocket more often.'
The Edge of the World Bookshop
'A magnificent new picture book.'
Heron Books, Bristol
'Chaotically fun but tender and thoughtful...with loads to look at in the artwork. Fun to read aloud with an important message.'
Waterstones Canterbury (selected as Book of the Month)
'Beautifully illustrated, a little bit silly and totally hilarious... Check it out!'
Kids Books Ireland
'Feels simultaneously both very contemporary and also very classic. This is a pitch-perfect picture book; a real gem.'
Frances Tosdevin, author of The Library Mouse
'A future classic.'
Amazon Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
'Bursting with fun characters, with a dynamic rhythm to match.'
Amazon Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
After that day I tried to be more in the moment. I stopped taking my phone to the park and made a vow to spend more non-screen time with each of my children every day. I’m not perfect but like most parents I do my best! The Dad in my story wants to spend time with his son too - he’s just distracted by the pressures of modern life. It takes a mobile-free moment for him to realise that he’s missing out on the things that really matter – being there for his son and making memories with him.