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Title: Sam and the Tigers: A Retelling of 'Little Black Sambo' (Picture Puffins)
ISBN: 0140562885
Author:
Julius Lester
Publicate Date: 2000-08-28
Publish: 2000-08-28
List Price: $6.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $3.27
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.30
Amazon Merchant Price: $6.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Pictures and story equally beautiful
I can't tell which I like better in this book: Jerry Pinkney's beautiful watercolor illustrations, or Julius Lester's engaging prose. 'Mr. Elephant's Elegant Habiliments' is one of Lester's literary inventions.
The world where all the people and animals get along, and all the people are named Sam come alive in this witty story. My children could listen to it again and again, and I don't object to reading it to them--as long as they help out with the 'roars!' The pictures are brilliant; even the trees have faces, and there is something unexpected on every page. The picture of the tigers melting into butter is a revelation.
This book is definitely one of my 10 favorite children's books of all time.
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2: Great book!
Ever since my 6 year old brought this book home from the school library my 4 year old loved it. He would ask for it whenever it was his turn to pick the evening book. So I got it for him for his 5th birthday and he is as happy as can be. There is a part where the tigers start calling each other a couple of names such as "Insect breath" and "loser". I drop those phrases as I'm reading and nobody knows the difference. Otherwise it is a fun book to read and the illustrations keep those little eyes on the pages. I recommend this book.
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3: Nice Illustrations, But Doesn't Replace The Original In My Heart
My mother read the story of Little Black Sambo to me when I was just a little kid. Ofcourse I could not see any racism in it at that time. To me it was a book with vivid colors where I used my imagination to put myself in Sambo's place, and seeing those pancakes made out of tigers made my mouth water. I remember that as I heard my mother telling me how the tigers chased each other's tales faster and faster, in my mind there was a race going on, and I loved to hear the ending of how Little Black Sambo had been so smart and lucky, and how his parents were so proud of him. The pictures in this new book are beautifully enchanting, but the story lacks its original feel. I miss this book, and I was shocked to hear that it was considered racist. I never thought of it that way, and I'm not racist in any way, shape, or form. This new story is NOT the original and it will never replace the original one in my heart. ALSO, the original is a piece of history, and I think it is the most horrible thing we can do to ban books of any sort. I agree with the other reviewer that I will never give up my copy of the original, but if you don't have a copy of the original, then buy the new one, because the framework of the story is still there. It's one that you CAN read to your kids, which I honestly would not recommend for the original tale.
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4: Sam and the Tigers: A New Telling of the Little Black Sambo
The new version of this story puts humor into an old story. The illustrations invite the reader to look at all the details on each page.
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5: Sambo's Story Retold is Still Very Good
I don't want to fall victim to political correctness as I am an avid believer in free speech. However, I also don't want my young son reading the original "Little Black Sambo" until he's a bit older. Taking care that very young minds are not polluted is not censorship as far as I'm concerned. That said, this is a superb retelling of the Sambo story. Sam, who lives in the town of Sam-sam-sa-mara where everybody is named Sam, needs new clothes and now Sam is old enough to pick out his own. He picks out a red jacket, purple pants, a yellow shirt and silver shoes and to top it all off, a green umbrella. However the next day he runs into a hunger tiger on his way to school and so, like in the original story, Sam barters his clothes, piece by piece, for his life. Yes, Sam winds up in his undies, and yes he gets his clothes back and yes he gets that butter for those pancakes and yes this is a very good book for children of all ages. I promise you, your child will enjoy this one.
Jack Priest, Dad in Training
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