The Story of Little Babaji

This is a retelling of the "Little Black Sambo" story without the racist overtones. I have always loved this story, and the beautiful illustrations by Jerry Pinkney really add to the experience. I am glad that children can enjoy the updated, racially sensitive version of this story. ( )

The story is set in India. The boy collects beautiful clothing and walks in the woods and there are four tigers that instead of eating him decide to take his clothing. They finally give him the clothing back after fighting with eachother about who is the grandest tiger.
This would be a decent read aloud book. ( )

Babaji cleverly prevents being eaten up by four tigers by offering each his fine coat, trousers, shoes and umbrella. The tigers whirled themselves into ghi which Papaji gathers up into a big brass pot and which Mamaji then uses to make a huge plate of pancakes of which Babaji eats 169. The repeated phrases and patterned texts in this book help make it easy for children to join in with the read aloud. The repeated words help build up vocabulary. ( )

Little Babaji’s mother gave him a bright, new red coat and some blue pants. His father gave him a green umbrella and some purple shoes. And he went walking proudly in the jungle.

But pretty soon he met a ferocious tiger. “Little Babaji, I’m going to eat you up.”

“And Little Babaji said, ‘Oh! Please Mr. Tiger, don’t eat me up, and I’ll give you my beautiful little Red Coat.’ So the Tiger said, ‘Very well, I won’t eat you this time, but you must give me your beautiful little Red Coat.’”

And the Tiger walked away proudly.

By now, I think you can tell the rest of the story.

The book is The Story of Little Babaji (HarperCollins, 1996). The illustrations, in subtle but beautiful colors, are by Fred Marcellino. On one full-page spread the four tigers roar and tear into one another, while Little Babaji looks on, peering from behind a tree.

When, in their fury, they go around and around in a circle so fast and for so long, they turn into “ghi,” as butter is called in India. For Babaji and his parents clearly live in India. They are dressed in traditional Indian clothing; the settings are obviously in India; and they look like people you might meet from Calcutta or Mumbai.

The author of the story, of course, is Helen Bannerman, who lived in India for thirty years. It was written in 1899. Unfortunately, in the original version the names of the characters and the illustrations invited a distinct racist interpretation. If the story was read to you when you were a child, it was probably called “Little Black Sambo,” the parents were Black Mumbo and Black Jumbo, and if there were illustrations they may well have looked like stereotypical black minstrel characters.

When I was a pre-schooler, as far as I can remember, I owned only one book, purchased no doubt in what was then called a “dime store.” It was 9 Stories, and one of those stories—my favorite—was “Little Black Sambo.” Same racist names, same kind of racist picture of the little black boy.

But you know what? It was my favorite story, and Sambo was my favorite fictional friend. He liked to dress up in new clothes; so did I. He like to walk around in the woods; so did I. He had to deal with neighborhood bullies; so did I. And he loved his mother’s hot pancakes. Well, in my case, it was more likely blackberry jam on hot buttered biscuits. But the point was the same. We were like brothers.

To adults, the story clearly was racist. To me, the child, it was just a good story, and Sambo was just a good friend.

So I’m glad HarperCollins has rescued Bannerman’s story from its racist baggage, and returned it to its setting in India. I wish that version had been available when my children were youngsters.

Julius Lester, with the help of illustrator, Jerry Pinckney, took a different approach in his Sam and the Tigers (Dial Books, 1996). He retold the story in a modern setting with a modern family, relying on Lester’s black storytelling traditions. Sam and his parents go to market to buy him some new school clothes.

“Sam’s mother picked out a nice brown jacket and white shirt. ‘That will look very handsome on you.’

“Sam shook his head. ‘Uh-uh. That ain’t me,’ he declared.

“‘Don’t you be talking back to your mama like that,’ [she] said.

“‘I’m a big boy now. I want to pick out my own clothes!’”

So take your pick. Little Babaji or Sam, or both. Your child will probably think of either of them as a good friend. Actually, Sam and Little Babaji would probably be good friends with each other.

And those hotcakes would sure taste good with some good old blackberry jam.