Customer Reviews

The Little Black Sambo Story Book

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As a child I admired Little Black Sambo! I honestly think that reading this book (Little Goilden Book edition) time and again at my Grandparents' home, gave me an appreciation for other cultures. Sambo was very clever and brave. His family was loving and intact. What characteristics to revere! I always wished I could be his friend and have tiger pancakes with him : - ) I have gone on to have many healthy and treasured friendships with internationals(including a roommate from Bangladesh) and minored in cross-cultural communication. This book has in no way influenced me toward prejudice!

When I was young we were read this story a lot. We were read the story so much that the book wore out. After that I had to ask my older brother to tell it to me because I couldn't remember it. I don't understand how this book is racist besides Sambo, Mumbo, and Jumbo's titles "little black" and the artwork. But the artwork just portrays the views of the time, and I've never understood how calling someone "black" is racist and calling someone "white" is'nt. If you want to read anything into this story it should be how a little boy outwitted four tigers. If you want to read a great childrens story pick it up. But if your looking for a place to unleash your insecurities of yourself leave this book to those who appreciate it. If people don't like it they are free not to read it, and if people like it they should be free to read it.

A wonderful book ~ loved it as a child, had been afraid it's completely out of print. The story & pictures appear racist to those who find racism in Dr. Dolittle or Huck Finn. This is surely a relection of your own characteristics, not the book itself. Yes, it was written (well-written, i might add) at a time when my people (i am English) treated others as lesser people; the story, however, does nothing of the sort (unless you feel the treament of the tigers is wrong...?). My children will be given this book, and the chance to love it. Thank goodness it's still in print!

My grandmother, who was a school teacher, had this book and I remember reading it time and time again at her house. I loved it. I have her copy and I bought one of my own. I still, at age 37, love the book and read it to my children. It is not racist. It is a classic. I see nothing harmful in this book. My children are 3 and 4 and they love it also. If you look at the time the book was written and the story behind why it was written, I think you will absolutely love this classic. I think of my grandmother everytime I read it to my children.

This book is wonderful. I remember it being read over and over to me when I was a mere child. I remember the pancakes and the tigers. This book has nothing to do with racism. Nothing! It is an incredible story of a little boy who fights for his pancakes and wins! Anyone who is insecure with their nationality should not inflict that on other's joy in this book or any other prejudice in life. The insecurities need confronting not the books or other issues as such. Indeed this book brings fond memories of my childhood.

For those who think this book is racial stereo typing, you may have a point, but only as far as the pictures are concerned. I can't understand what the controversy is regarding the story itself. You've got an intact black family (I know, they're from India but still basically black). Dad works, Mom stays home with Sambo and makes him cool duds, and Sambo's a sensitive, clever child. You're just looking for a fight if you think this story reflects badly on black people. And have you ever seen how ugly Gary Larson's Far Side WHITE people are?? Blecch.

I don't quite know how some people get racial stereotypes out of this wonderful story. It's true that much of the older artwork fell into the racist genre, but the story itself is pretty free of all that rot. It's a charming story for children, and poor Sambo (who is Indian, not African - contrary to uninformed opinion) overcomes comical tigers to triumph over them. Then, of course, he gets his pancakes!

This was my favorite story as a child.I am now 55 yrs. old. I had the book and the record. My mother and I spent many good times singing and telling this story. I have lost the book through the years and so have been telling the story and singing the songs to my granddaughter. I thought the book was out of print. I can now share it with my grandchildren. Please don't read anymore into the story than a simple brave little boy who could eat 199 pancakes.

I found this book exciting and as a child I didn't know of racism and never thought of this book as anything but a childs story. Wasn't this story started in India? I have a copy from around 1930, there is no publishing date, and I would like to hear from some one who knows about this particular book. I also believe this story book was published in England before it was published here.

When I was a kid with 3 brothers and a sister I don't know how many copies we went through. My kids read it to thier kids and now my grand daughter reads it to her daughter. Sambo was always my hero. I never thought being white or black ever entered into it. It's to bad people are that narrow minded.