Customer Reviews

The Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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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.

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?

Little Black Sambo was one of my favorite stories as a first grader. My school was blown away by a tornado in 1942 and the my book with it. At 67, I still remember the tigers melting into butter. He was my hero. I ran a google search and was delighted to find it. I agree, " the truth is that the story is delightful, and depicts Sambo as a smart, inventive and perceptive young boy." It should not be offensive to anyone. It is a wonderful story for a 4 to 6 year old.

My 6 year old son loves this book as do all of the other kids we have shared it with. I'm not exactly sure why Mumbo and Jumbo are racist terms to some--I think that they are too sensitive. Surely the book is less harmful then watching a 1/2 hour sitcom on TV.

The story was entertaining to me as a child and seems to be entertaining to children now. We especially enjoy the bit about eating pancakes.

A wonderful childhood book to read again even now at age 52.

The pictures of the tigers, bright clothing and how to make butter are still fresh in my mind from that story. I ran around that tree with that little boy, time and time again and I am glad that we are able to have this book available to share with our children and grandchildren.

I was so glad to see this book on Amazon.com, as I remember Little Black Sambo from my childhood (1940's). I remember coloring books too. This is JUST a story about a boy who has some colorful new clothes, who comes across some tigers, in the Jungle, that take the clothes, instead of eating Little Black Sambo. Each tiger had a piece of clothing, and while Little Black Sambo was hiding behind a tree, the tigers began to fight each other, because each tiger thought that they were the grandest. They threw the clothes on the ground, caught hold of each others tails, and were circling around a tree so fast that they turned into butter. Little Black Sambo put on his clothes and ran home. His father came upon the butter while coming home from work and scooped it up in a brass pot he was carrying. Well, they had pancakes for dinner using the butter. Mother ate 27 pancakes, Father ate 55, and Little Black Sambo ate 169 because he was so hungry. Just a cute little story!

Received as a gift for my new son. This story is a classic and I was thrilled to get a new copy for my son. It was one of my favorites growing up.

I was asked to bring a children's book to my first grandbaby's shower..I searched for this classic and was thrilled with the discovery of this book in Amazon's great collection. I was not disappointed.

I bought six of my favorite childhood books for my great-grandson..."Little Black Sambo", "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", "Henny Penny", "Chicken Little", "The Three Little Kittens", and "Classic Tales of Brer Rabbit". (I didn't realize this book was so small..."A Wee Book for Wee...") I would have preferred a larger sized book to go with the others. My great-grandie is 2-1/2 and I can't wait to read these wonderful stories to him.