Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo is a folk tale, retold in 1968 by Arlene Mosel, about a Chinese family with two sons. Mosel's adaptation has been criticized for perpetuating stereotypes of Chinese culture. 1
Fast Facts:
- Author (retold by): Arlene Mosel
- Illustrator: Blair Lent
- Genre: Children's Books
- Reading level: Ages 4-8
- Publication date: April 2007
- Publisher: Square Fish
- Pages: 48
- ISBN 9780805006629
Plot Synopsis
A family in China has two sons. The older one is named Tikki tikki tembo no sa rembo chari bari ruchi pip peri pembo, and the younger boy is named Chang. The older son is revered; his very long name means "the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world". The second son's much shorter name means "little or nothing." One day, in spite of their mother's repeated warnings, the brothers play near a well and Chang falls in. Tikki tikki tembo finds help and Chang is easily rescued. Some time later, the brothers again play near the well and Tikki tikki tembo falls in. Chang appeals for help, but because his brother's full name is so long Chang takes too much time to explain what has happened, and Tikki tikki tembo nearly dies. After this incident, so the story goes, Chinese parents no longer gave their children elaborate names.2
Related Mahalo Pages
The Funny Little Woman | Arlene Mosel | Blair Lent | The Five Chinese Brothers
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