Ellie Tames the Tiger

By Callie Barkley and Emily Raij

In this twenty-second book of the Critter Club series, Ellie prepares for her stage debut while she and the other girls try to keep a new kitty from wreaking havoc on their barn!

Ellie is paired up with a classmate, Paul, on a special dance number for the school play. But right from the start, Paul gives her the cold shoulder! Will Ellie and Paul be able to patch things up in time to take the stage together?

Meanwhile, Marion, Ellie, Liz, and Amy rescue an adorable kitten named Tiger...but he can’t stop causing mischief in the Critter Club barn! Can the girls team up to help Tiger—and find him a new home?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Critter Club chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little Simon
• Release date: Mar 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781534480667

Callie Barkley

Callie Barkley loves animals. As a young girl, she dreamed of getting a cat or dog of her own until she discovered she was allergic to most of them. It was around this time that she realized the world was full of all kinds of critters that could use some love. She now lives with her husband and two kids in Connecticut. They share their home with exactly ten fish and a very active ant farm.

Book preview

Cover: Ellie Tames the Tiger, by Callie Barkley, illustrated by Tracy BishopEllie Tames the Tiger, by Callie Barkley, illustrated by Tracy Bishop, Little Simon Trade

Chapter 1

One Wrong Move

It was Ellie Mitchell’s favorite day of the week: Wednesday, which was drama club day at school. And this was an extra-special one. They were about to run a dress rehearsal for their play, Amazing Animal Acts. Ellie had been cast as Cat. She would be onstage in her costume for the very first time!

Ellie adored her costume. She and her mom had made it together. They started with an orange unitard. Then they added brown ruffles and furry trim.

But the best part was the long, springy cat tail. It bobbed and bounced when Ellie leaped and jumped.

My tail will really help me get into character, Ellie thought.

Inside the auditorium, Mrs. Jameson, the drama teacher, called all the actors over.

Only one week until opening night, Mrs. Jameson said excitedly. So we’re going to run the whole show today. But first I want to make one change to Cat’s big dance number.

Cat! That’s me! thought Ellie.

Ellie, I’ve added another cat dancer, said Mrs. Jameson.

Ellie’s shoulders drooped. That number was her big moment in the play!