There were lots of lovely tributes to Judith Kerr but Emily Maitlis’s was the best

John Plunkett. Updated May 23rd, 2019

The Tiger Who Came To Tea author Judith Kerr has died at the age of 95, her publisher HarperCollins said today.

There were lots of lovely tributes to the amazing author, who published more than 30 books in a career spanning half a century.

Adieu, beloved friend & neighbour, bonus grandmum to our girls, gentle, wry, unique Judy. Our hearts are heavy, yet you’d be urging us to tell stories, to live, laugh & love, unstintingly, with every breath we are given, as you did for 96 remarkable years. Ruht wohl #JudithKerr pic.twitter.com/mvd4zIxOZw

— Howard Goodall (@Howard_Goodall) May 23, 2019

Oh, RIP Judith Kerr. Just an absolutely remarkable human being. pic.twitter.com/z83jp8c7hL

— Seb Patrick (@sebpatrick) May 23, 2019

Judith Kerr was a wonderful woman and a wonderful soul. I was lucky enough to have met her several times. Her love of life and her decency simply shone from her face. RIP

— Mark Gatiss 💙 (@Markgatiss) May 23, 2019

While I am heartbroken about Judith Kerr, I know that to escape Nazis, build a life and family in a new country, create a wealth of books that generations of children and adults adore, and to go to parties in great frocks well into your 90s, is a well-lived life.

— Melissa Cox (@mmdotcox) May 23, 2019

I am so sad to hear that Judith Kerr has died. She was a legendary author and illustrator, whose stories and illustrations gave pleasure to millions around the world, not least me and my son. Judith is gone but her books will live on forever. pic.twitter.com/U36klRiQcM

— David Walliams HQ (@davidwalliams) May 23, 2019

i went to a judith kerr talk where she said that when mog was translated into german she was stubbornly rendered in the text as a male cat "because feminism hadn't really hit there yet". pause. small smile. "so i waited some years and gave mog kittens and let them sort it out."

— rosalie (@tiltwithlips) May 23, 2019

https://twitter.com/salihughes/status/1131501915739758592

We're sad to hear that Judith Kerr has died. If you've never read The Tiger Who Came to Tea, read it today. If you've not read it for a while, read it today. If you've not read it today, read it today. 🐯☕️ pic.twitter.com/RF3U5aMbiB

— Orkney Library (@OrkneyLibrary) May 23, 2019

We loved this memory too.

My children's favourite book. My husband with my sons once took all the food out of our cupboards and switched the water off so that when I got home from work the kids could say a tiger had been for tea. We put their coats over their pyjamas and took them to the cafe. https://t.co/3zhsZAaTac

— Jess Phillips (@jessphillips) May 23, 2019

But our favourite tribute might be this one.

I remember asking #JudithKerr Kerr if the tiger symbolised the 1960s sexual revolution where normal mores and suburban life became upended by this wild and exotic creature. She told me no, it was about a tiger coming to tea.

— emily m (@maitlis) May 23, 2019

Similar but different, was this.

Heard a great Judith Kerr radio interview a while back where the interviewer suggested that the Tiger who came to Tea was in fact the Nazis coming for the Jewish people.

Kerr paused and then slowly said: "The Tiger… is very much a tiger… who wants some tea."

— Rob Williams (@Robwilliams71) May 23, 2019

Last word to Judith Kerr herself.

Goodbye, Judith Kerr 💔 pic.twitter.com/PrN1QXUdKP

— Vicky Langan (@vicky_langan) May 23, 2019

RIP Judith Kerr