The Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk) [Hardcover]

Helen Bannerman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Wee Books for Wee Folk

First published in London in 1899, this classic tale by Helen Bannerman tells the story of a little boy named Sambo who encounters four hunger tigers, outwits them, and turns them into butter, before returning safely home to eat a 169 pancakes for his supper.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

HELEN BRODIE BANNERMAN (1862-1946) was born in Scotland. The daughter of a chaplain, she lived for over thirty years in India. She married a doctor in the Indian Medical Service and they had two daughters. THE STORY OF LITTLE BLACK SAMBO was written by Mrs. Bannerman to amuse her young girls during a long train journey and first published in 1899.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Applewood Books (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557094144
• ISBN-13: 978-1557094148
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

153 of 180 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic story for children, October 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk) (Hardcover)

When my wife asked me to try and find several classic children's books for her new baby grandson, I smiled at the mention of the titles, recalling with great fondness the stories being read to me by my mother when I was a child. Little Black Sambo was one of those stories. It is, of course, a shame that there arose some time ago individuals who equated the story with "racism". To the intelligent mind, it is truly a pity that some are so intent to find "racism" that they will envision same where none even vaguely exists.Such is the case with this fanciful, harmless classic story for children; a story that has been told to generations of children who have listened in wonder as the tigers melted into butter for (the little Indian boy) Sambo's pancakes!It is a story that returns one to a simpler time, long before child psychologists, political correctness (and who indeed is qualified to judge what is or is not CURRENTLY "correct"? Perhaps we're better off not knowing their identities, God help us!), shootings committed by school children, and all the other wonders of this wonderful Modern Age.Little Black Sambo is an American classic. As for racism: it can be found wherever one desires to find it. And if it exists not where they look, tis easy enough to invent.

97 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOUR TIGERS MAKE 251 PANCAKES, January 17, 2001

By 

"hurburgh" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk) (Hardcover)

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Is there a stronger image in children's literature than the four angry tigers that grab each other's tails, run around the palm tree, faster and faster until they melt into a big pool of butter?

The tigers intimidated the little boy (who just happens to be called Sambo) into handing over his beautiful new clothes. He is the smart hero in this classic story.

The real lesson in this tale is shown in the fate of the tigers. Their greed and arrogance leads to an argument over "who is the grandest" when dressed in Sambo's clothes. They get so angry with each other that they forget why they are fighting but just go on getting angrier until they chase each other into oblivion. We see avarice, leading to pride, aggression, and ultimately to destruction. This is a profound lesson for all of us.

The big jar of melted butter (ex-tiger) that Sambo's dad collected from under the palm tree let Mom cook up a big pile of pancakes to feed all the family.

The only criticism that can be levelled at this book is "tigerism".

Make sure you get a genuine re-issue of Miss Bannerman's 1921 original classic not one of the bowdlerized (and supposedly sanitized) "updates". The 21 illustrations in the original have a delightfully naïve quality and form an essential part of this book. Look out for other books in the " Wee Books for Wee Folk" series. They will take you back to the more innocent and less complex world known to our grandparents. There was wisdom to be had back then too.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It takes me back to the early 40's.thrilled to have a copy, November 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk) (Hardcover)

Searching thru old book stores in Halifax,I thought to ask if Little Black Sambo was ever in stock. They had one that came in 48 hours ago and I couldn't believe my luck. My copy seems older than your dates for Wee Book For Wee Folks. I bought it in l999. Pub.Altemus Wee Book Series . There is no year of publication so I can't tell. It's not the value so much as the true age of this particular little gem . I always had it read to me before we ate pancakes and it was very exciting for a 4 year old. As an adult I can understand a mothers joy in creating and illustrating stories for her children. The "Are we there yet"? syndrome obviously existed 100 years ago. What happened to the two daughters Any ideas?