ALA Booklist (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Lonely Tiger doesn't have any friends. This could be due, perhaps, to his size, his claws, his teeth, his fierce expression, or maybe his voice which, to other animals, sounds suspiciously like a growl. One day, Tiger finds an abandoned drum; he doesn't know what it is but, since it doesn't flee from him, he considers it a friend. When Tiger's tail hits the object, it makes a pleasant sound that emboldens nearby creatures. As Tiger traverses the forest, other animals take a chance and accompany the big cat and his gentle "friend," adding their voices to Tiger's "Rrrrrrrrrrhhh" and Drum's "Rum pum pum." Monkey, Rhino, Parrot, Chameleon, and Elephant make up the rest of the parade through the lush green-and-gold Indian forest. The phrase "And they went along and went along and went along the road" recurs, giving the story the feel of a folktale. One last forest inhabitant plays the drum for the rest, ending an argument and relaying a story that soothes the new friends to sleep.

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Deep in an Indian jungle, a lonely tiger longs for friends.Although he claims to be friendly, Tiger's sharp claws, huge teeth, and fearsome growl scare off his fellow creatures. All this changes when Tiger discovers a drum left beneath a sal tree. Tiger doesn't know what the drum is-it's a human invention, after all-but notices that when he taps it with his tail, it makes a delightful rum pum pum sound. Carrying his new, rhythmic "friend" with him, Tiger wanders through the forest. Before long, the drum's rum pum pum attracts a monkey, a rhinoceros, a parrot, a chameleon, and an elephant, all of whom layer their own, distinctive sounds over the beat of Tiger's drum. The group walks along happily for a time, but the company threatens to disintegrate when the animals fight over Tiger's drum. Luckily, at just the right moment, a young boy steps into the fray and, with the help of some drumming, saves the day. The book's earth-toned illustrations are stunning: Each page is packed with movement and atmosphere, and the characters' faces are wonderfully expressive. The text is poetic, rhythmic, and, at times, humorous. While the story arc feels underdeveloped-it is not clear how the animals walking together created the deep friendship referenced on the book's final page or how the Tiger's drumming cured the animals' fear of him-the language is a pleasure to read aloud. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-21-inch double-page spreads viewed at 71% of actual size.)Illustrations make this lyrical tale of the Indian jungle really shine. (authors' note, websites) (Picture book. 2-5)

School Library Journal (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 1-3 Tiger does not have any friends. One day he finds a lost drum in the road. As he walks, he beats the drum with his tail. The percussive sound attracts friends: a monkey, a rhino, an elephant, and other animals that would typically be considered prey by a large jungle cat. Even though all the animals make different noises, they are all enchanted by the rum pum pum of the drum. Near the end of the day, they argue over who will get to carry the drum. A young boy breaks up their argument when he collects his lost drum and plays a tune, lulling the animals to sleep in a close-knit pile. Although the ending says this is a story about friendship, the animals' only bond is the drum and the music they have created. The cumulative nature of the story, with each animal's call being added to the parade, becomes overwhelming. If the text is cumbersome, the illustrations shine. Colored pencil and digital paint beautifully render the flora and fauna of the South Asian landscapes. The animals have expressive faces and human mannerisms, similar to characters from The Jungle Book . The title page and endpapers show the drummer boy surrounded by wooden figurines of the animals in the book, suggesting the whole story exists within his imagination. The boy is brown-skinned and presumably South Asian. Back matter clarifies the liberties that the authors have taken, by bringing together animals from different habitats of India; they ask readers to think about what they can do to preserve the endangered tiger population. VERDICT Despite Sarkar's lovely artwork, this is not an essential purchase. Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA