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.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: An old classic favorite... Comment: 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. Customer Rating: Summary: Little Black Sambo Comment: 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! Customer Rating: Summary: Little Black Sambo Comment: The illustrations in this book are disappointing! They really depict Little Black Sambo, his mother and dad in a oid-timey "black," derogatory way. Given the opportunity, I would not purchase this book again. Customer Rating: Summary: "The White Man's Burden" Comment: This is not, as one reviewer writes, "A loving attempt to reach across the racial divide." Unfortunately the historical record contradicts this reading, and this kind of nostalgia for a 'simpler time' erases the history of colonial rule. Maintaining divisions between a ruling class (British) and a subaltern class (colonial subjects) was the whole point of colonialism. The story of a cute native is part and parcel of the same ideology that produces the story of the threatening savage, or the easily scared native. Even if he is clever. This idea supported Western dominance. You may find this character cute and cuddly, but stop and think about that. So are puppies. It paid to maintain that the 'primitive' races were refreshingly childlike, endearingly innocent, incapable of self rule or living in a modern world. They were the 'white man's burden,' and their natural resources could be had for the superior races. You would see this more clearly if you had a look at any of the official papers written by colonial administrators like Helen Bannerman's husband. All of these stories came out of that system of beliefs. Exactly WHO is nostalgic for this past? Certainly not Black and Brown descendants of a conquered people. This was not a simpler time but one in which brutal subordination of a people was sanctioned by the state. If you miss that 'simpler time' I hope you don't live next door to me. My children would not be safe. Customer Rating: Summary: Black Sambo lives forever Comment: This is the best book my parents have ever read to me. I lauged when asked if black peoples lips are really that big. They told me yes but that Maxine Waters has the biggest. Well i don't know who he is but i think the writer meant to say waffles instead of pancakes at the end. Oh and the father didn't drink malt liquer so that's why i think this isn't a true story.
