Story of Little Babaji [Hardcover]

Helen Bannerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 1998

Helen Bannerman, who was born in Edinburgh in 1863, lived in India for thirty years. As a gift for her two little girls, she wrote and illustrated The Story of Little Black Sambo (1899), a story that clearly takes place in India (with its tigers and "ghi," or melted butter), even though the names she gave her characters belie that setting.

For this new edition of Bannerman's much beloved tale, the little boy, his mother, and his father have all been give authentic Indian names: Babaji, Mamaji, and Papaji. And Fred Marcellino's high-spirited illustrations lovingly, memorably transform this old favorite. He gives a classic story new life.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Almost a century ago, when Helen Bannerman created the story of Little Black Sambo while traveling on a train to Madras, she never guessed that her simple tale would become a symbol of racism. It was the names she chose for her characters and the simple, crude illustrations that earned the story a place on the trash heap of politically incorrect literature. Underneath the racist veneer, however, is a simple and timeless story. Thank goodness for Fred Marcellino's new version. He saves the tale by changing the names of the characters to Babaji, Mamaji and Papaji. In doing so, he has resurrected a basically honorable tale from a largely undeserved fate. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW said, "Marcellino takes on the task of recasting Bannerman's 1899 Little Black Sambo and obtains winning results. He sets his version in India and his stylish and comparatively spare interpretation captures the childlike whimsy and charm of this long-lived tale." Ages 3-up. (June)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Ragged Bears (January 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857141385
• ISBN-13: 978-1857141382
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,859,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am so glad my children can enjoy this!!, June 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of Little Babaji (Hardcover)

I remember so vividly my "Tell-a-Tale" book of "Little Black Sambo." It was one of my favorites, and I can distinctly hear my mother's voice reading it to me. None of us thought of it being racist at the time, and while I can understand why it was banned, I always mourned its passing. While I also like another recent version of this story, "Sam and the Tigers," "Little Babaji" has the exact text that I remember. It makes so much more sense to have an Indian family, because as my son says, "There are no tigers in Africa." What a lovely reminder of my childhood, and what beautiful illustrations. Now the only problem is that I don't know which of my children to give it to!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Example of an Updated Children's Book Done Well, November 4, 2001

By 

F. S. Dowler "Musical Storyteller" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Story of Little Babaji (Hardcover)

Normally, I eschew rewrites and updates, particularly if the books are children's novels "dumbed-down" for board book and toy book appeal. However, Little Babaji is exquisite in this rewrite of The Story of Little Black Sambo. The Indic names "Mamaji, Papaji, and Babaji" convey a new warmth for the story of a boy who creatively outwits wild tigers without swords or sorcery. (I think of Max in Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, especially in the double-page spread in the book's middle.) Marcellino's illustrations are humorous and spirited. My only wish is that the publishers would reprint Little Babaji in a size large enough for easy viewing in library preschool storytimes.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Legacy, January 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of Little Babaji (Library Binding)

As I read through this version I had vivid memories of my mother reading Little Black Sambo to me when I was four years old. Now, as was then, it is difficult to determine if the illustrations bring the text to life or if it is the other way around! When I first showed the book to my two boys (5 and 9 years old), the response was ho-hum----then I quietly began to read. They became transfixed, after all,watching wily tigers turn into butter is a pretty neat trick. The legacy lives on and so does our desire to munch on some pancakes at the end of each reading.