We are learning about India. We started with our Big Book Atlas to find India and also where we live. As always, geography holds a keen interest for children. Of course we became sidetracked in the best of ways, to the poles (we’re reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins) and the vast ocean. When we finally focused on India, tigers were the big interest.
Tigers! The best thing I did was to read two tiger books, The Story of Little Babaji, and The Tiger-skin Rug. Read on!
I vividly remember the book Little Black Sambo when I was a little girl. I loved that book. Did you? Do you remember the tigers running around the tree and turning into butter? This was a classic book.
Fast forward to teaching preschool. I discovered the book again, but it was different. The characters weren’t black, they were from India. That was the way the original story was written, as the author lived in India for thirty years. Here is a brief description I wrote about the book:
The Story of Little Babaji
Helen Bannerman wrote this story in 1899. When I was a child, I loved Little Black Sambo, which was an adaptation of this book. That book was banned, and the original, based in India, was reborn. Thank goodness. Not only is it a great story, it is so beloved in my classroom that we host play performances for families. When a children’s book has a repeating phrase that encourages children to join the reader and say aloud; “Little Babaji, I’m going to eat you up”, it cements their love for the book.
The original book was banned. It had become a symbol of racial injustice. Yet, that was never the author’s intent, way back in 1899. Along came the illustrator Fred Marcellino who understood the story and wanted to bring it back to the original intent of the author. He didn’t change the words, but he changed the names of the characters to true Indian names – Babaji, Mamaji, and Papaji.
The book is high on my top ten children’s book list. Really. My readers know I am picky, so that vote speaks volumes. Children are always glued to the story. They love to help me with the chant, “Little Babaji, I’m going to eat you up.” We have done play performances for families based on this book. In my decades of teaching, this book is one of the best. It has withstood the test of time, from being loved to being banned to being redone as it was meant to be.
The Tiger-skin Rug, by Gerald Rose was written in 1979.
It is a wonderful story of an old tiger who is thin and hungry. He keeps looking through the window into the Rajah’s house. There is food. There is family. He is hungry for both.
When he sees a servant beating rugs – including a tiger rug – he has a brilliant idea to get rid of the tiger rug and pretend he is the rug. It worked!
The tiger enjoyed his life with the Rajah’s family, pretending to be a rug, until robbers came into the palace. Oh no! He had to do something. He roared the biggest roar, scaring away the robbers, and opening up himself as a real tiger. Not a rug. The Rajah was shocked! Of course he welcomed the tiger into the family as a real tiger.
Of course the next best thing to reading these books is becoming tigers. Grrrr!
I don’t care if a book is old or new. I care if a book is good. These are two of the best tiger books. Happy reading.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I, too, read the first, in its Sambo-carnation… and loved it! I shall have to check the other one!
You will like this one even more, Annette. Thanks!
How adorable, Jennie! I love the way you teach! I fondly remember the Sambo book from my childhood, as well as the pancake-centric restaurants named for it. Glad someone was able to eliminate the racial stereotype aspect and redeem this otherwise charming story.
Thank you, Mitch! I feel the same way about the book.
I remember thinking the Sambo book was wrong, because there are no tigers in Africa. 😊Happy to see it authentically re-written, and I really enjoyed your tribute to these two books. (The tiger outfits are cute too!)
Best wishes, Pete.
Exactly, although most people never made that connection back in the day. I’m glad you enjoyed the two books and the adorable tigers in costume. Many thanks, Pete.
This is so delightful, Jennie. It must be a wonderful adventure for the children. Hugs on the wing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Teagan! Yes, it is a wonderful adventure for children. Hugs!!
I remember Little Black Sambo and loved the story. I’d forgotten about it. Thank you for sharing these two books.
I’m so glad you remember. Thank you, Esther.
What a story of ‘redemption of intention’ (I just made up that little rhyming phrase – HA!). I remember your post from the first time around and was/am relieved I could admit to loooooving this book so much as a kid. I actually wanted to become the butter…Like beetleypete, even at a young age I knew there were no tigers in Africa but the spell of ‘Artistic License’ in reading/hearing a story overcame that discrepancy!
BTW: I love the idea of the tiger imitating a tiger rug in the other book and then being welcomed into the family once his living status was discovered. That last aspect gently addresses the issue of animal fur uses, etc. 🙂
Every child needs a tiger costume!
Delightful. Jennie. I remember Little Black Sambo as well. You are right these are great stories.
Jennie, count me among those who recall the Sambo story. Hadn’t thought of it in ages, so it was a pleasant surprise to see it has been “restored” in this manner. Both books look like great reads, and who doesn’t want to dress up as a tiger!
I liked the story Little Black Sambo when I was girl too. There used to be a restaurant that the story on its walls. It closed down many years ago. I’m glad the stories have been revamped and are being read again. The little Tigers in your classroom are too cute!!
It’s finally the perfect story, as it was in 1899, but updated with proper names and illustrations. How wonderful that there used to be a restaurant. They must have served pancakes. Thank you, Deborah. I love the little tigers, too.
Yes, it was a breakfast place. They had the best coffee and I’m a tea drinker! 😀
Someone sent me a link to the restaurant. It was in 47 states! I would have loved the restaurant.
these sound like great books. But I have to admit my favorite tiger books are Calvin and Hobbes 🙂
I love Calvin and Hobbes, but it’s far beyond preschoolers. Thanks, Jim!
agreed; maybe eight year olds would get the humor…
Exactly!
I loved the Little Black Sambo book as a child too. It made me want to meet people different from the people around me. I had never met a black person until sometime later. I loved how they ate pancakes at the end. My mom always made pancakes on Sunday. So to me they were a family just like us. The newer version looks wonderful as well.
Same here, Darlene. Pancakes take on a whole new meaning. The new version is perfect!
Wonderful post filled with great stories old and new!
Thank you, Cathy!
There was a Little Black Sambo testament in St Paul, pancakes and lots of syrup. Then it was boycotted because some felt it was racist.
What a shame. I think Helen Bannerman would be appalled, yet I know she would be glad the book is back to its original roots.
I loved Little Black Sambo turning the tiger to butter. I had my mother’s copy, which had very racist illustrations.
Do you still have the book? I think my childhood copy which is long gone had the same racist illustrations. It is such a good story, and I’m so glad it’s back to its roots.
I don’t think I still have the book, unless it’s buried in an unknown box somewhere.
Same here! Sigh!
Best closing sentences EVER! And the sweet photos aren’t bad, either! ❤️🥰❤️
Thank you, Vicki! 😍
I had almost forgotten Little Black Sambo. I enjoyed the story as a child. I’m glad it’s been revised and published again in the form it should have been offered. The kids certainly look like they enjoyed it.
I loved the book as a child, too. I’m really glad it’s back to where it should be, and it is better than the book we remember. The kids loved it! Thanks, Dan.
Aw they’re so adorable in their tiger suits!
They are! Thanks, FR.
I was on Bollywood craze for a bit—my fave is Bride and Prejudice.
🙂
I also loved Little Black Sambo and am thrilled that this story is still around in it’s original format. I will have to see if my library has it so I can share the story with my grandkids. I love seeing your kids in the tiger costumes.
As a Little Black Sambo lover (like me), you and your grandkids will LOVE this book. Helen Bannerman grew up in India, and that’s the foundation for her story in 1899. You know how picky I am about good books, this is a winner. Yes, the kids in costumes are precious!
Trying to find a copy is not easy, Jennie.
I just checked on Amazon, and they have the book in both hardback and paperback. Remember, the title is The Story of Little Babaji, not Little Black Sambo. Honestly, I think your library can get you the book, too.
I will look again, I didn’t see it on Amazon. It may not be available to me in Canada, but will look again.
Ah, I hope you find it. Thanks, Carla.
Very cute pictures and the Tiger books you promote seem to be great children’s books. An interesting Tiger fact is that there are likely more Tigers in Texas than in India. Well, in Texas they are mostly in private zoos and backyards.
Yes, they are great books. How interesting that Texas might have more tigers than India!
Yes interesting and a bit scary. There are between 3,000 and 5,000 Tigers in people’s backyards and private zoos here in Texas. I would not be happy if my neighbor had a Tiger in his backyard. But maybe the homeowner association would have something to say about it.
Yikes! I would not be happy either.
Here’s to good books and having the courage to say no to book banning. I remember Little Black Sambo. I’m sure you remember Sambo’s restaurants.
Hooray to good books and the courage to say no to book banning. Pete, I do not remember Sambo’s restaurants. Deborah from California said the same thing. Was it a west coast chain?
They started in the West but expanded to 47 states. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo%27s
Thanks for the link, Pete. It was a very interesting.
Wonderful , Jennie! I loved Little Black Sambo and I didn’t grow up prejudiced. I thought it a shame that this book was banned. Why should anyone else decide what I’m allowed to read or think?
But that aside, I love the Indian version too, and the followup fun of being tigers “puts the icing on the cake.”
Same here, Anneli. We grew up the same way. Banning books is just terrible. Let the reader decide what s/he likes to read. The authentic Indian version is much better, and it’s an outstanding book. Yes, there’s nothing better than becoming a tiger after reading the book. 😀
So much fun, and that’s how learning should be.
Hear, hear!
What a wonderful and adventurous time of learning for your class. The books sound fantastic and immersive while dressing up adds to the experience. They look so cute and excited! One can travel far with books and imagination!
Lovely and beautiful stories Jennie. Children just like to listen to them and so cute of them to wear these clothes. Thanks a lot 😊🙏
Thank you, Kamal. Yes, children love to listen to them, and the costumes are so cute.
Wonderful post as always Jennie… and love the images from the books and the costumes. A lovely way to introduce these amazing big cats to children through storytelling. ♥
Thank you, Sally! The books are among the best, and of course storytelling makes books come alive. Children love the big cats, and the costumes are favorites! 🥰
I never knew any of this! I never read Little Black Sambo when younger and just heard ‘through the grapevine’ that it was racist. Thanks for explaining what the true intent was and bringing back this original book which is adorable and fun!
Hi Pam, I’m so glad you enjoyed this. The racist element was true, although Helen Bannerman wrote the book with Indians, not blacks. It was a shame it became Little Black Sambo, but growing up with that book was wonderful. I think thats an oxymoron. Honestly, I hope you check out the book at the library. It is wonderful!
Always welcome dear Jennie.
Thank you, Kamal!
Jennie, there is so much delight in this post, such sunny brightness. I loved your take on the books, and the background/history is fascinating. Thank you for sharing this. Hugs.
Awww… thanks so much, Teagan. I’m glad you like this. Hugs!
Welcome Jennie 😊
Thank you, Kamal!
❤️🙏❤️🙏
It’s such a shame when books are banned. I feel the same way about Enid Blyton’s books – they’re all banned in state schools here, but hey, the authors wrote in a different era when people were less sensitive.
They are? That’s terrible! I think people are way too sensitive today.
I agree.
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Thank you, Sally!
Both of them sound delightful. How lucky to be a child in one of your classes, Jennie!
That’s so nice, Olga. Thank you!
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Thank you, Sally!
Thanks for sharing the tiger fun, Jenny. The books sound wonderful, and I loved the illustrations. And, of course, those little tigers in your classroom are adorably ferocious!
Thank you, Diana. The books are SO good, and my classroom tigers are definitely adorably ferocious. 😍