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Tikki Tikki Tembo by [Arlene Mosel, Blair Lent]

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Arlene Mosel

Tikki Tikki Tembo Kindle Edition

by Arlene Mosel (Author), Blair Lent (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition

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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.

Tikki Tikki Tembo is the winner of the 1968 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Picture Books.

Reading age

4 - 8 years
Print length

48 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Lexile measure

AD910L
Publisher

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date

October 30, 2012
Page Flip

Not Enabled
Word Wise

Not Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Not Enabled
ISBN-13

978-0805006629
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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) --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

From AudioFile

Marcia Gay Harden's reading will remind the parents of young listeners why Arlene Mosel's book has entertained since 1968. The engaging, instructive tale explains why the Chinese give their children short names. When the honored older son of a Chinese mother falls into the well, his younger brother, Chang, runs for help. But the older brother almost drowns because Chang has a hard time repeating his name: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo. The Asian music (complete with a gong to note page changes) and sounds of splashes create an almost-visual ambiance. In the forefront are Marcia Gay Harden's spot-on characterizations and her wonderful playfulness with the drama of Tikki's ever-so-long name. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Arlene Mosel (1921-1996) first heard the story of Tikki tikki tembo as a child. When she grew up, she shared this wonderful tale with countless children, including her own. Because so many young listeners responded enthusiastically, she decided to write her own retelling, and Tikki Tikki Tembo became her first book for children. The book was named an American Library Association Notable Book and won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. In 1997, The New York Times named it one of the best 50 children’s books of the previous 50 years. Mosel was also the author of The Funny Little Woman, which won the 1973 Caldecott Medal for Blair Lent’s illustrations and was recognized as an Honor Book by the Hans Christian Andersen International Children’s Book Awards. Mosel was an associate professor of library science at Case Western Reserve University. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Mosel died in Indianapolis in 1996.

Marcia Gay Harden is an Academy Award-winning actress who has performed in many movies, including Pollock, Into the Wild, The Mist, Casa de los Babys, Mystic River, Flubber, Meet Joe Black, and The First Wives Club. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Lee Krasner in Pollock. She has appeared on television shows including Damages and Royal Pains. For Macmillan Audio, she reads Arlene Mosel’s classic children’s book, Tikki Tikki Tembo.

Blair Lent received the Caldecott Medal for The Funny Little Woman by Arlene Mosel. He has also received three Caldecott Honors. He is the illustrator of Ms. Mosel's Tikki Tikki Tembo, a bestseller since its publication in 1968. Blair Lent lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

In this folktale, help is slow in coming when a Chinese boy falls into a well, since the boy's long and difficult name must be pronounced in full. Beautifully expressive drawings enhance the book's Oriental feel. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“This book and CD combination…encourages children to retell the story to others (thus developing their oral language skills)…This is a very popular story that children will enjoy hearing and telling over and over.” - Parents' Choice Awards, 2009 Parents' Choice Approved Award Winner

“The Oscar-winner’s reading voice is absolutely lovely. She has such fun with the story – and with the repeated pronunciation of “Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo” – that you’ll have no problem listening again and again.” – Cookie Magazine

"Young children will love hearing the audio again and again and families will play it over and over because this classic suits all ages." - Chapel Hill Herald

"Macmillan Audio has taken a classic that is over 40 years old and added new life to TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO...Read by actress Marcia Gay Harden, kids and adults alike can enjoy the tongue twister of a name story that many of us have grown up with." – TeensReadToo.com

"Marcia Gay Harden provides wonderful narration, giving each character a distinctive voice." – School Library Journal

"Marcia Gay Harden's reading will remind the parents of young listeners why Arlene Mosel's book has entertained since 1968." - AudioFile, Earphones Award Winner

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

ASIN : B008JNUKE6
Publisher : Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Illustrated edition (October 30, 2012)
Publication date : October 30, 2012
Language : English
File size : 13298 KB
Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Not Enabled
Print length : 48 pages
Lending : Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #100,822 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8 in Children's Explore Asia Fiction
- #27 in Children's Multicultural Folk Tales
- #118 in Children's Asia Books

Customer Reviews:
2,614 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		91%
4 star		6%
3 star		2%
2 star		1%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Barbara R

Fun book

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

Great book. This is fun to read and has a nice lesson. As a reading specialist and English teacher, I wish the critics and book banners would go away. So what if it is not completely authentic. It's a fiction book not a history or cultural lesson. It makes me wonder what these people read to children because if everything has to be totally accurate, animals don't talk, and then there is Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny...get it?

76 people found this helpful

Helpful

PeaceBang

This Classic Is Actually Pretty Racist

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

Wow, I hadn't realized as a kid how racist this book is. I bought it out of nostalgia and it occurred to me that this might be a Westerner's insulting take on Chinese custom and in fact, it is. The original tale is Japanese, not Chinese, and the adoration lavished on the older son to the detriment of the younger son (who is neglected) that is supposed to represent Chinese culture and practice is an invention.

Time to retire this one. Don't perpetuate negative stereotypes about Asians. There are much better books out there.

46 people found this helpful

Helpful

Gwendolyn R. Mendyk

The story is dark

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

I remember this book from childhood and loved it. The name of the little boy is oh so fun to say BUT as an adult the message of this book is horrifying. The mom is absent and neglectful of her younger son, the prized first son is left permenantly scared, and no one learns a lesson except to give the first favored son a short name...I’m sorry what?!? This book did not stand the test of time for me. But I would love to see it revised with a different ending. The illustrations are lovely and well tiki tiki tembo is super fun to say.

46 people found this helpful

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The Huntington Book Depository

There's is no greater power move than making your child read the books you read as a kid!

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

I joke, but it's actually really fun to stumble across a book that you remember reading as a kid, or from a Reading Rainbow you watched as a kid, and dust it off for your own children. 9 times out of 10, they love it as much as you did, and it mops the floor with a lot of the newer children's books out there. This book is a classic, a catchy, tongue-tier of a read that your child will love repeating with you as you read the refrain aloud. My three year old can't get enough of this nostalgia trip, so I'd recommend to any modern parent out there!

13 people found this helpful

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Jaimie

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2014

Verified Purchase

In a nutshell: Tikki Tikki Tembo as retold by Arlene Mosel is a fabled Chinese fable about two little brothers. The oldest one is purportedly given a long impressive name meaning “The Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole Wide World” as he is to inherit his parents’ beloved possessions. His younger brother is considered some sort of back-up and is given a short name (Chang) which means “Little or Nothing” or Clueless Playmate or something. Wiki-the-source-of-all-truth-pedia, states that the book is controversial because it may be a Japanese story told about China and does not portray Chinese culture accurately. I plan to seek guidance from my Chinese family members on where this story lands on the offensiveness scale.

So,the boys are monkeying around and Clueless Playmate falls into the well. Golden Boy runs to his mother and they get a ladder-wielding-tree-napping-old-man to save him named “Old Man With The Ladder.” He pumps the boy’s leg like a water pump to revive him which must be some sort of olden time CPR.

Of course the little boys are monkeying around in the bathtub AGAIN, I mean near the well, despite the close brush with death and this time Golden Boy falls into the well. His brother runs for help and after repeating John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt four or five times, almost passes out from exhaustion, leaving his evil mother childless. Fortunately, Old Man With The Ladder comes to his senses and rescues Golden Boy with the same water pump CPR procedure.

And the story concludes that this is why Chinese families name their kids little, short names.

Families can talk about: How would you feel if your name meant Little or Nothing? Do you know what your name means? Why is the mom so mean and dismissive of the younger brother? Why don’t the little boys mind their mother? Do you mind your mother? How confident are you about that answer? What is your game plan if you fall into a well or deep water? What should you do? And if you see your brother fall in? Why do you think swimming lessons are important? Which is more fun to say: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo or John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt?

96 people found this helpful

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Fluffywumpkins

Childhood story

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

One of the most read books when I was a kid. Wanted to share it with my kids. This is a story about two brothers who care for each other. The youngest tries to get help for his big brother who has fallen in the well, but because of the older brother’s super long name he has difficulty expressing the emergency to adults to get help in time.

11 people found this helpful

Helpful

Holly Tracy

So Ridiculous, but a Childhood Favorite

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

I ordered this for my boss's granddaughter because it kept coming up in conversation and how I could still remember the kid's whole name (but not his brother's short, simple name, I kept thinking it was Chris, believe it's Chang). The artwork is fun and the book is so absurd, but nostalgia.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Stephan

Not the same book we read as kids!

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2020

Verified Purchase

This is a new version where the boy doesn't drown in the well. The boy is sick in bed The End! We feel ripped off, its not the book we remembered and loved as kids. Description should say in big bold letters this is new version with their own twist. Very Disappointed in this! Threw it out! Will buy from somewhere else.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

John Russell

Simple but infectious

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

I hesitated to give this book five stars for a number of reasons, most notably the unwarranted but niggling feeling that perhaps it's not the most politically correct book (although there's nothing remotely offensive about a tale from ancient China) and the fact that by the end of the book if you're reading this aloud to your child you get so freaking tired of saying that whole name that you hope that your child doesn't want you to read it again.

And the reason I gave it five stars anyway is because my four-year-old did want me to read it again. And again. And again and again and again until she could rattle off "Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo" without hesitation herself. It's a cute story that deserves to be read out loud, no matter how exhausting it gets, because it's fun and catchy and one that I remember fondly from my own childhood for the same reasons that my daughter loves it now.

So buy this book. But you might also want to buy an oxygen tank to go with it.

14 people found this helpful

Leah Gaines

" This was a favourite with my husband and his siblings

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2016

Verified Purchase

Because it's just too entertaining to hear your two year old say "Most honourable mother, Tikki tikki tembo no sa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo has fallen into the well!"

This was a favourite with my husband and his siblings, and I can see why.

Amazon Customer

Love it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

My mother read this to me as a child so i had to get it to read to my kids. Love this book.

Donsai

An engaging read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

A very engaging read for young children. Both of my children love to have this book read to them over and over again, perhaps not quite so much for the story but the repetitiveness of Tikki Tikki Tembos full name. It became a race to see who could say the whole name first. The only reason I have not given this book five stars is because of the cultural inaccuracies. However, these small inaccuracies do not detract from the enjoyment of the story in any way. I would totally recommend this book.

One person found this helpful

Resmnky

Daughter loves this story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2013

Verified Purchase

One of the few children's stories I'm happy to read over and over. Part of the pleasure is in saying Tikki Tikki Tembo's reeeeeaaaally long name as fast as you can. Even my 3 year old can do it and I let her fill in the name whenever we get to it in the story.

2 people found this helpful

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