Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
The Platt & Munk Co., Inc. (1932), Pamphlet binding, 12 pages
Description
A retelling of the well-known tale in which a little black boy finally outwits the succession of tigers that want to eat him.
Media reviews
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Betsy Hearne (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, February 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 6))
Arguably one of the most controversial books in the history of children’s literature, this century-old story has been criticized for its stereotyped illustrations and for the ongoing racist implications
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of the derogatory name Sambo. In 1996, artist Fred Marcellino tried to politically correct the narrative by retitling it The Story of Little Babaji (BCCB 9/96) and setting it in India, where it was first written. That same year, the African-American team of author Julius Lester and illustrator Jerry Pinkney sought to redeem the story with a fantastical send-up that capitalized on its strong characters, images, and action (Sam and the Tigers, BCCB 7/96). Now award-winning illustrator Christopher Bing casts the original text in an oversized format complete with antiqued pages, scrapbook-like endpapers that include a reference to support for the project from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and framing pages with a long editor’s note on the book’s background. Bing’s double-page spread compositions pulse with restrained energy and reflect meticulous attention to detail in the Indian flora and fauna and the African human cast, all textured with the effects of an old engraving. The colors that play such a large part in the story--red coat, blue trousers, green umbrella, and purple shoes with crimson soles and crimson linings--are set against black-framed sepia backgrounds that play up the gold of these imperial tigers. While respecting the story’s past, Bing also seems to be mocking it with his back-jacket-flap self-portrait in a colonial sahib-helmet. Yet there’s no question that he has empowered the tale with fresh individuality and dynamic book design. There’s also no question that many children respond breathlessly to this story of a little boy who rescues his fine new duds from some fierce predators. For those who are comfortable reading aloud or retelling the story of Little Black Sambo, Bing’s pictures will project--to a group or an individual--its fast pace and infectious rhythm with visual bravado. Review Code: R -- Recommended Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member ursula
So much controversy over such a simple little story. This is the updated version (one of them) of the illustrations, which keeps the character black but also keeps the location in India, hoping to be faithful to the original story but offend the fewest people.
LibraryThing member antao
(Original Review, 1981-01-07)
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, anyone?
The whole notion of "tainted classics" gives me the creeps. "Tainted?" Sez who? But changing them to make them more PC is even creepier. Read on...
This is a true story, although it's hard to believe. In the 1980's I was perusing the
Children aren't stupid, and they won't turn into racists because they pick up an old classic from their grandparents' childhood shelves and read a good yarn that also includes attitudes we deplore. A lot of "boys own" or girl adventures had bucketloads of this stuff. Yet some of us marched for civil rights, are wary of what drives foreign policy, and are straight allies of LGBTQI family and friends. Remember, children are now receiving a culture (which itself will change) that has changed its attitudes. They can suss out quite a bit for themselves. Give them some credit. If the author of this piece wants to purge (deliberate usage there) her shelves, she can. If she wants to keep her kids' minds unsullied, she can. But I would be more inclined to let the old grubby-binding friends sit where they are. If my kids read them, I might ask if they noticed attitudes, and go from there.
And if we purge or avoid or hand-wringing, we lose the frames of reference and foundations for comparison. It's vital to be able to say to our children and each other, yes, this is the way it was, here are the ways in which these issues still exist, let's see how we can involve ourselves in positive ways. Elsewhere I cited Pepys, and his treatment of and attitude toward women in the 1660s - and what society right now is without the very same domestic problems? Racial issues are somewhat improved but hardly vanquished . . . we have kilometres to go yet, and the old(er) non-PC literature is one of the beacons along the way. Avoid it and we'll just continue chasing our tails instead of continuing social progress.
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, anyone?
The whole notion of "tainted classics" gives me the creeps. "Tainted?" Sez who? But changing them to make them more PC is even creepier. Read on...
This is a true story, although it's hard to believe. In the 1980's I was perusing the
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selection on offer in the children's section of an otherwise wonderful bookstore, the kind long gone now. I was absolutely staggered to pick up a book--an actual, in-my-hand book--called "Little Gray Sambo." I stood there and read it: I had to make sure it wasn't a "fake" of some kind. But no. It was a re-telling of "Little Black Sambo" with the central character changed to...gray. It was beyond bizarre. Publish it or don't publish it. But...gray? Not too long after, I was in again. Same store, same section. Oscar Wilde. The Selfish Giant. The whole final bit where the giant realises the child he has longed to see is the Christ child was lopped off and a few clumsy sentences appended. Cutesy drawings and a fuzzy-focus lesson in "sharing." Censorship at work.Children aren't stupid, and they won't turn into racists because they pick up an old classic from their grandparents' childhood shelves and read a good yarn that also includes attitudes we deplore. A lot of "boys own" or girl adventures had bucketloads of this stuff. Yet some of us marched for civil rights, are wary of what drives foreign policy, and are straight allies of LGBTQI family and friends. Remember, children are now receiving a culture (which itself will change) that has changed its attitudes. They can suss out quite a bit for themselves. Give them some credit. If the author of this piece wants to purge (deliberate usage there) her shelves, she can. If she wants to keep her kids' minds unsullied, she can. But I would be more inclined to let the old grubby-binding friends sit where they are. If my kids read them, I might ask if they noticed attitudes, and go from there.
And if we purge or avoid or hand-wringing, we lose the frames of reference and foundations for comparison. It's vital to be able to say to our children and each other, yes, this is the way it was, here are the ways in which these issues still exist, let's see how we can involve ourselves in positive ways. Elsewhere I cited Pepys, and his treatment of and attitude toward women in the 1660s - and what society right now is without the very same domestic problems? Racial issues are somewhat improved but hardly vanquished . . . we have kilometres to go yet, and the old(er) non-PC literature is one of the beacons along the way. Avoid it and we'll just continue chasing our tails instead of continuing social progress.
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LibraryThing member Stsmurphy
This is one of the greatest children's books ever written. I read it to my son at least once a week. Sam, the main character, lives in Sam-sam-samara where everyone's name is Sam. But no one ever gets confused about which Sam someone is talking to. Anyway, Sam is getting ready to start school, so
On his way to school, Sam encounters a series of Tigers, all who want to eat him. Sam, in classic African-American story fashion, cleverly tricks each and every Tiger until he begins to run out of tricks. What will he do to escape the Tigers?
You have to read it and find out for yourself... All the voices and clever little nuances of language are what makes this an amazing story.... Not to mention all the incredible art.
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his parents-- Sam and Sam, take Sam school clothes shopping. Well, little Mr. Sam chooses a wardrobe that has enough color to shame the brightest rainbow.On his way to school, Sam encounters a series of Tigers, all who want to eat him. Sam, in classic African-American story fashion, cleverly tricks each and every Tiger until he begins to run out of tricks. What will he do to escape the Tigers?
You have to read it and find out for yourself... All the voices and clever little nuances of language are what makes this an amazing story.... Not to mention all the incredible art.
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LibraryThing member paulo.bilyk
Helen Bannerman, the author of this book, was born in Edinburg in 1862 and married a doctor in the Indian Medical Service. "Little Black Sambo" was written and drawn by her in 1898 to console her two daughters who who were sent away to a hill station to escape the worst of the heat while their
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parents remained in Madras. Seeing its great success with the children. Seeing its great success with the children, a friend took the book to England where it was first published by Grant Richards in London 1899. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lisa2013
I just saw a Goodreads friend rate & review this, and it sparked my memory.
I absolutely loved this story as a small child, and to me it was about a boy who created a wonderful outcome for himself and who was the hero of the story. He’s intelligent, capable, creative, and very clever, and those
It’s been close to 50 years since I had this story read to me or read it myself. As a 2 to 4 or 5 or 6 year old (1955-1959) I was not aware of any objectionable content; I did not know that sambo was a racist term and the pictures did not raise a red flag for me, and I’m positive the same goes for my parents. That doesn’t mean we weren’t ignorant, and that’s disconcerting.
Reading about his book now, I am saddened to recognize racist content (at least in the version I knew) and I must say the tigers turning into butter is another disturbing aspect for me. Both the racism & depiction of the tigers would keep me from recommending it to today’s children.
I’m doing what I’ve done with most books here at Goodreads: rating it based on my opinion when I read it or had it read to me. Now, I suspect the version I knew would get 1 star; the revised versions might fare better.
I absolutely loved this story as a small child, and to me it was about a boy who created a wonderful outcome for himself and who was the hero of the story. He’s intelligent, capable, creative, and very clever, and those
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pancakes were enticing and enviable.It’s been close to 50 years since I had this story read to me or read it myself. As a 2 to 4 or 5 or 6 year old (1955-1959) I was not aware of any objectionable content; I did not know that sambo was a racist term and the pictures did not raise a red flag for me, and I’m positive the same goes for my parents. That doesn’t mean we weren’t ignorant, and that’s disconcerting.
Reading about his book now, I am saddened to recognize racist content (at least in the version I knew) and I must say the tigers turning into butter is another disturbing aspect for me. Both the racism & depiction of the tigers would keep me from recommending it to today’s children.
I’m doing what I’ve done with most books here at Goodreads: rating it based on my opinion when I read it or had it read to me. Now, I suspect the version I knew would get 1 star; the revised versions might fare better.
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LibraryThing member kmacphee
ESL classroom use: adverbs, adjectives, sentence structure.
LibraryThing member dchaves
Wow - Christopher Bing has wonderful handwriting - a lost art. A wonderful story - the billy goats gruff mixed in with tiger/wolf stories. Reminds me of Neil Gaimon's Cinnamon - also set in India.
LibraryThing member mjmorrison1971
Probably very non-PC to admit to loving thsi book but I do. It was read to me as a child and I now have read it to mine - the tigers are great and I am still looking for the purple shoes with crimson soles and crimson lining
LibraryThing member tloeffler
This book brings back happy memories of my father reading it to me with the most fabulous voices. PC or not, I readily admit to it being one of my very favorite childhood books.
LibraryThing member sdbookhound
This is my favorite edition of this famous book. Although banned in many areas it is a well loved story. Fern Bisel Peat's are my favorite.
LibraryThing member kthomp25
Excellent work as always by illustrator Christopher Bing. Rich endpapers to explain the controversy surrounding this work and to give the background of the author, a military wife living in India for 30 years.
Beautiful colors on pages designed to look old and mildewed, this story will hopefully
Beautiful colors on pages designed to look old and mildewed, this story will hopefully
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appeal to the young with no connotations of illustrations from earlier editions. Show Less
LibraryThing member tterrill
This book is about a little boy who was given a beautiful outfit. His mother made him a red coat and a pair of blue trousers, His father had bought him a green umbrella and a pair of purple shoes. One day he went for a walk in the woods. Several times during his walk he came across a fierce tiger.
I enjoyed this story but I am having a hard time reviewing it. It is controversial due to the name of the boy. Maybe if the name of the book changed I would not find it so difficult to read.
I would not use this book in a classroom with young children. I would not be comfortable knowing that some families would take offense to the book. I would however use it in classroom of older students in order to open up discussion on racism.
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Each time he met a tiger he bribed them not to eat him by giving them a piece of his clothing. In the end the tigers argued over who had the best piece of clothing. The tigers ran around chasing each other so fast that they melted into butter. The little boys mother used the butter to make the family pancakes for dinner.I enjoyed this story but I am having a hard time reviewing it. It is controversial due to the name of the boy. Maybe if the name of the book changed I would not find it so difficult to read.
I would not use this book in a classroom with young children. I would not be comfortable knowing that some families would take offense to the book. I would however use it in classroom of older students in order to open up discussion on racism.
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LibraryThing member Purr4kitty2003
I used to read this story as a kid. It is about Little Black Sambo, who gets this great outfit, but then has to give it away, piece by piece, to each of four tigers so they will not eat him. The tigers each preen in their new finery, but end up arguing about who looks the best in their new clothes.
This story is incredibly racist, now. It inspired the derogatory epithet, Sambo for Black people. It is unfortunate, because I always liked this story. I do not see why it cannot still be enjoyed. Children must be taught about racism, and how to look past it. I think this book can help serve that purpose. I found this gorgeous edition, illustrated by Christopher Bing, and I just had to include it. The illustrations are lush, textured, extremely three dimensional, and remind me again of Animalia. It also has a history bit and a collage of period clippings, which just add to its beauty. I found it to be one of the most beautiful books I came across in my local library. I would buy this book as a collector.
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Each one grabs the tail of the other, and they begin running in a circle that becomes so fast they turn into butter. Little Black Sambo reclaims his kit, scoops up the butter, and takes it home, where he eats it on an IHOP version of a serving of pancakes.This story is incredibly racist, now. It inspired the derogatory epithet, Sambo for Black people. It is unfortunate, because I always liked this story. I do not see why it cannot still be enjoyed. Children must be taught about racism, and how to look past it. I think this book can help serve that purpose. I found this gorgeous edition, illustrated by Christopher Bing, and I just had to include it. The illustrations are lush, textured, extremely three dimensional, and remind me again of Animalia. It also has a history bit and a collage of period clippings, which just add to its beauty. I found it to be one of the most beautiful books I came across in my local library. I would buy this book as a collector.
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LibraryThing member krystalramirez
Summary: This is a controversial book about a little black boy who runs into a tiger everyday and the tiger takes whatever little black sambo happens to have on that day, shoes, clothes, umbrella he gives the tigers these things so they will leave him alone. When the tigers receive these things
Personal Reaction: While I understand this book could be viewed as negative I look at this book as a lesson about mean people (or animals) getting what they deserve. The tigers were horrible to "Little Black Sambo" and they all ended up turning to melted butter which he ate. So I think he came out the winner and got revenge.
Classroom Extension:
( I would have to get this book approved by the school and parents before reading this book.)
1.) Make pancakes in the classroom.
2.) Make a paper doll and dress it like "Little Black Sambo".
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they say that they are the grandest tiger. At the end the tigers fight over who is the grandest tiger and chase each other around a tree fighting until they turn into melted butter. While the tigers were fighting they took off all the clothes they had taken from Sambo so he takes them all back. As Sambo's father is walking home he finds the butter and takes it home to the mother who makes pancakes with the tiger butter.Personal Reaction: While I understand this book could be viewed as negative I look at this book as a lesson about mean people (or animals) getting what they deserve. The tigers were horrible to "Little Black Sambo" and they all ended up turning to melted butter which he ate. So I think he came out the winner and got revenge.
Classroom Extension:
( I would have to get this book approved by the school and parents before reading this book.)
1.) Make pancakes in the classroom.
2.) Make a paper doll and dress it like "Little Black Sambo".
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LibraryThing member nexist
I remember this book from when I was a child. A restaurant on the Oregon coast had named itself "Li' Black Sambo" after this book (not related to the chain Sambo's).
This book was available as part of the children's menu (or some such). Driving along the coast with my own children, I spied the new
The book itself is small, being 5.5x4.5 inches. Its artwork is by the author. The story itself is rather banal, having the vacuous trickster morality style of Uncle Remus, but with the lack of agency by the main character that redeems those stories. If I were to take offense to this tale, it is not in the rather silly accusations of racism, but in the fact that Sambo is an anti-hero. He doesn't win because of anything he does, but rather he just happens to be able to take advantage of the situation created by his antagonists. This kind of thing really came to the for in the 1960s & 70s, and I disliked it then also.
I am happy to have the book because of the fond memories it evokes of me and my family enjoying a vacation on the coast, not from any intrinsic merit of the actual work.
This book was available as part of the children's menu (or some such). Driving along the coast with my own children, I spied the new
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"Lil' Black Sambo" restaurant (the original had burned down some years ago). The restaurant now emphasizes the Tiger aspect (it is a pancake house) in its decorations. I recall it nearly going down in the PC righteousness of the 80s (or so). The current restaurant sells this book, supposedly the only authorized American edition.The book itself is small, being 5.5x4.5 inches. Its artwork is by the author. The story itself is rather banal, having the vacuous trickster morality style of Uncle Remus, but with the lack of agency by the main character that redeems those stories. If I were to take offense to this tale, it is not in the rather silly accusations of racism, but in the fact that Sambo is an anti-hero. He doesn't win because of anything he does, but rather he just happens to be able to take advantage of the situation created by his antagonists. This kind of thing really came to the for in the 1960s & 70s, and I disliked it then also.
I am happy to have the book because of the fond memories it evokes of me and my family enjoying a vacation on the coast, not from any intrinsic merit of the actual work.
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LibraryThing member ErstwhileEditor
I have long toyed with the idea of deliberately collecting banned books. It really irritates me when books that depict a way of thinking at the time are deemed unPC and are therefore banned or reissued with the "offensive" matter edited out.
The banning of "Little Black Sambo" bothers me for more
Let me add that I don't approve of the way folks thought in days of yore when it comes to race. But denying that reality does not change history.
*****
I selected this reissue because it most closely matched my recollections from my early childhood. Other copies I have seen were just "wrong" in some way.
The banning of "Little Black Sambo" bothers me for more
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than one reason. First, Sambo is not "Black" as we use this term today in the United States; he is an (Asian) Indian. Second, even if he were "Black", why is it fine to depict another race in any way imaginable while we must tread very carefully when it comes to other races? Third, as mentioned in my general comments, if this way of thinking was prevalent at the time of writing, can we just deny that by reworking these books?Let me add that I don't approve of the way folks thought in days of yore when it comes to race. But denying that reality does not change history.
*****
I selected this reissue because it most closely matched my recollections from my early childhood. Other copies I have seen were just "wrong" in some way.
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LibraryThing member k8seren
Yes, it's really, really racist. But when I was little, my Grammy read it to me all the time and I loved it. It's probably not a great book to read to kids now, and I'm sure it's out of print, but I used to love it. I was a little kid. I think it was one of the first books I learned to read.
Like a
Like a
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lot of the other reviewers have said, I thought the little boy was clever and that tigers really could turn into butter if they ran fast. Little kids don't see it as racist. I don't know what happened to the copy we had, with these great illustrations, but I really wish I still had it. Show Less
LibraryThing member EmKel753
This book was originally written in 1899 and for years the word "sambo" was deemed a racial slur. Unfortunately, the original illustrations depicted Sambo with "darky" iconography. In this new adaptation of "Little Black Sambo" the story hasn't changed, but the illustrations have been beautifully
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remastered and Sambo is no longer depicted in a stereotypical way. Show Less
LibraryThing member margaritamunoz14
Horrible book that depicts from what Africans are really like. This book is racist and it should be banned form all schools.
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
This review is for this edition. Christopher Bing's illustrations are gorgeous. The story is allowed to be an outright fantasy (after all, the boy is African but the parents, tigers, jungle, and food are Indian). The tigers melting into ghi is just plain funny - what small child doesn't imagine
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even sillier things? Bing chose to leave Bannerman's text intact, but rather to enhance it with so many details in the format of the book as a whole that we can easily believe she meant only joy and kindness. The complex author's note at the end is for grownups - after reading it they might choose to share bits with their children, but there's no need. 3.5 stars? I'm just not sure of one thing - can the simple silly story of the text support such a rich, heavy, gorgeous book? I feel a sort of a dichotomy or disharmony. Show Less
LibraryThing member Philogos
Very much of its time, this book takes a paternalistic, colonial view of black people - in particular of Indians, where it is set. The story is interesting and the illustrations in the (1924) edition we have are more African than Asian but that is how confused people were at the time. Is it racist?
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Not intentionally but, by modern standards, it crosses a line. If read to a modern child that point would have to be made which, in my view, would be a valuable learning opportunity. Show Less
LibraryThing member drmom62
I always thought this was a wonderful book because it showed how smart the little boy was in the end
LibraryThing member drmom62
I always thought this was a wonderful book because it showed how smart the little boy was in the end
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1899