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readwith_elizabeth's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
This was such a cute kids book. I found it in my parents stuff while helping them and it was so sweet.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
To start off–I recognize that there’s a long, long history of this tale, its retellings, and the discourse surrounding it. I just read this for an African American folktales section in my folk/fairy tales class, likely to analyze how this tale has grown and changed over the past century. That being said, I don’t think the tale in itself is that racist? And if I’m just totally missing something, please feel free to let me know! Though I feel that the illustrations are pretty racist–they’re cartoonish at best, and ape-like at worst, which just goes to show the unrecognized racism of the time period. There are certainly better adaptations published in more recent years, but as the “original,” it’s safe to say that it stirs up quite a conversation! Overall, the tale as a text was enjoyable.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
The only retelling I'd read of Little Black Sambo was Sam and the Tigers by Lester and Pinkey, so reading this was a bit of a delight to further understand the growing and changing this tale has gone through over the past century. This version offers a different setting (India) with much more realistic illustrations than the original. Because of the much less racist illutrations, this version is probably much more appropriate for younger audiences who have an interest in folk tales.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
Part of the charm of this simple Indian folktale is the design of the book itself. It's a small square size with text on the bottom of the left-hand page and watercolor illustrations on the right.
Babaji gets some fancy clothes from his mother and father and takes a stroll in the jungle wearing them. When approached by one tiger after another, he offers each an item of clothing in exchange for his life. When he's left with nothing, we feel a bit concerned, but it turns out there's no need for alarm. The tigers are so absorbed in fighting with each other over the new clothes that he escapes...and that's not all. There's a fun "gotcha" at the expense of the tigers at the end.
Babaji gets some fancy clothes from his mother and father and takes a stroll in the jungle wearing them. When approached by one tiger after another, he offers each an item of clothing in exchange for his life. When he's left with nothing, we feel a bit concerned, but it turns out there's no need for alarm. The tigers are so absorbed in fighting with each other over the new clothes that he escapes...and that's not all. There's a fun "gotcha" at the expense of the tigers at the end.
catastra's review against another edition
3.0
I've never read a physical copy of this book, but it used to be one of my favorite stories that my grandmother told me when I was little. Back then, any potentially racist content went over my head. I (a white American) just found it cool that a little boy outsmarted a cluster of tigers. And even cooler (though kind of horrifying now that I think about it) that those tigers melted into butter.
What a strange but memorable story this is. And apparently forever lodged in my memory.
I've not read any updated version of this book, so I don't know how it compares today. I'm also not sure if I do or don't recommend parents today read it to their children. Like I said, I didn't think about it as being racist as a kid. My parents and grandparents never talked about it like it was either, so it wasn't an issue. It's a good story, though, so if you're a parent, read it at your own discretion.
What a strange but memorable story this is. And apparently forever lodged in my memory.
I've not read any updated version of this book, so I don't know how it compares today. I'm also not sure if I do or don't recommend parents today read it to their children. Like I said, I didn't think about it as being racist as a kid. My parents and grandparents never talked about it like it was either, so it wasn't an issue. It's a good story, though, so if you're a parent, read it at your own discretion.
alexsiddall's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it then. I still like it - with the sort of reservations you'd expect.
virginiacjacobs's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because it's on a lot of banned book lists and I always like to see what gets other peoples' panties in a bunch. And honestly, the only thing I could think of is that it takes place in India, but the characters are described as "black." And in the illustrations, it looks like the faces were colored in with the brown crayola marker.
Really, I was slightly more concerned by the running tigers turning into butter than any of the human characters.
**Hang on** I just read some other reviews and learned that "Sambo" was a racist term (I guess it still is?). I had no idea. Seriously. No. Idea. I'm not more alarmed by my own ignorance than anything going on in this book.
Really, I was slightly more concerned by the running tigers turning into butter than any of the human characters.
**Hang on** I just read some other reviews and learned that "Sambo" was a racist term (I guess it still is?). I had no idea. Seriously. No. Idea. I'm not more alarmed by my own ignorance than anything going on in this book.
idgey's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
emmarj's review against another edition
I think this would have been a fun story but I got my copy from the library and big chunks of pages were torn out. First, we were introduced to Babaji. Then he has clothes. Then he has no clothes. Then tigers have each other's tails in their mouths. Then there are lots of pancakes! The end! /headscratch
shanny1366's review against another edition
2.0
The whole time I was reading this book, I felt mildly uncomfortable at the names of all of the characters. Do we really have to iterate in every line that they are black? Also, is the name Sambo really a good choice? And why is this little black boy running around in India? I was not familiar with the story or its history until I read the pages in the very back of the book.
The answer to all of my questions is that this story was originally written in the 1800s by a white woman, who apparently didn't know (or care) that not all dark-skinned people are the same. The note says that the previous illustrations were all incredibly racist (no big surprise there, considering the time period).
The illustrations in this edition are absolutely gorgeous, and I understand that this is an attempt to take back the story from its racist past. However, I do still feel that this story is problematic, and would only encourage using it if you are ready to have a heavy discussion about the history of racism, colonialism, and stereotyping.
The answer to all of my questions is that this story was originally written in the 1800s by a white woman, who apparently didn't know (or care) that not all dark-skinned people are the same. The note says that the previous illustrations were all incredibly racist (no big surprise there, considering the time period).
The illustrations in this edition are absolutely gorgeous, and I understand that this is an attempt to take back the story from its racist past. However, I do still feel that this story is problematic, and would only encourage using it if you are ready to have a heavy discussion about the history of racism, colonialism, and stereotyping.