 List Price: $16.95 
Product Description: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-
chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!
Three decades and more than one million copies later children still love hearing about the boy with the long name who fell down the well. Arlene Mosel and Blair Lent's classic re-creation of an ancient Chinese folktale has hooked legions of children, teachers, and parents, who return, generation after generation, to learn about the danger of having such an honorable name as Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.
Amazon.com: If you haven't already read Tikki Tikki Tembo, you've probably heard at least someone recite the deliriously long name of its protagonist: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, by now a famous refrain in most nursery schools. In this beautiful edition--complete with line and wash illustrations by artist Blair Lent--Arlene Mosel retells an old Chinese folktale about how the people of China came to give their children short names after traditionally giving their "first and honored" sons grand, long names. Tikki tikki tembo (which means "the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world") and his brother Chang (which means "little or nothing") get into trouble with a well, are saved by the Old Man with the Ladder, and change history while they're at it. Tikki Tikki Tembo is a perfect book to read aloud, but don't be surprised if you find yourself joining the ranks of its chanting followers. (Picture book) Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-19
classic for kids
When I asked my children (now grown) which book I should bring to a baby shower they all agreed that this one was memorable. The cover says it's sold a million copies and I believe it. To this day we all remember every syllable of that "great, long, name". Rating:
Date: 2008-06-29
What's His Name?
Tiki Tiki Tembo
Arlene Mosel
The oldest son was named Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruche-pip peri pembo, which means "the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world!"
The second son was named Chang.
When Tiki tiki tembo fell into the well, his poor brother had to run and get help. It took so long to run and get help, and even longer to say his brother's name.
This is a re-telling of a Chinese fable. My daughter brought this book home from a book sale when she was in elementary school; she read it so many times the book wore out. We got another copy of this book so I could read it to my grandchildren. Children love to say this boy's name. Every time we come to the name, a different child wants to say it. Soon, I find that the children can read the book to me.
Pick up a copy of Tikki Tikki Tembo, and watch the excitement on the children's faces.
Jill Ammon Vanderwood
Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)
Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-25
Terrible
I cannot believe this book got such high ratings. If I could rate it a "0" I would.
I checked this book out from the library and thankfully looked it over before reading it to my two boys. Why would a childrens story book be about the first born being honored and revered and the second one treated horribly? I just didn't find it appropriate for our family at all. My kids would definitely pick up on this.
Sure the older boys name is cute and fun to say, and I can get over the Asian inaccuracies as others mentioned, but a Mothers favoritism in a child's story isn't appropriate at all. Rating: 
Date: 2008-06-05
Cute but outdated and racist
I remember this from my childhood; the name is forever etched in my memory. So I got a copy for my two year old, who also enjoys it (though he's not repeating the name yet, after a single reading).
But reading it as an adult, I don't like the orientalism it relies on for the story. You can read other one star reviews that go into more detail on this, but it's put forward as a Chinese folk tale, when there's nothing authentically Chinese about it, including the book's namesake. The second born child is virtually ignored, claimed as a Chinese custom; I'm the second born, and I have no memory of this bothering me.
Yes, it's a fun read for a child. Yes, it's racist. I can't decide if we'll be reading it again. Rating:
Date: 2008-04-18
Good times
This is a great book for children of all ages and genders. It's fun to read and the kids love the really long name. I would recommend it to anyone. |
