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#Tikki tikki tembo story full#

Especially those from cultures that are not very familiar with Chinese history as a whole.

It’s a cleverly problematic book because it is both obviously nonsensical and subtly believable. I think, like has been mentioned before, it’s the combination of a silly story with a ridiculously fun to say name, the fact that it was always read in such an entertaining way by my mother with the little brother losing his breath with the repetition and of course the beautiful illustrations. I even admit to a deeply seeded love for it still (its a bit of a puzzle for me at the moment).

This is awesome! As a white American 40 year old female, I’ve been hoping to find something like this to ensure that I don’t ignorantly pass on misinformation or representation and, like so many others here, I LOVED this book when I was little. To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.Īs an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.īEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books. Top 10: Best Chinese New Year Books for Kids I have two lists of Chinese New Year books to use instead here and here.ġ5 Wonderful Chinese New Year Picture Books This Wikipedia article at least provides information on Chinese names, modern and historical, and makes no mention of first-born sons ever getting especially long names.Ĭhinese New Year Picture Books Instead of Tikki Tikki Tembo I tried to find a source to back up this point, but apparently, there isn’t really a good way to find evidence of what a culture is not. According to the story, Chinese people traditionally gave their firstborn sons long and honorable names.Tikki Tikki Tembo’s little brother does have a Chinese name, Chang, which, according to the book, means “little or nothing.” The book was written in 1968, well before pinyin was standardized, but even if we generously consider all tones of “ chang” and “ zhang,” none of the dozens of possible translations even come close to meaning “little” or “nothing.”.If anyone doubts that this stereotype continues to persist in modern society, look no further than the 2011 racist rant by a UCLA student.

#Tikki tikki tembo story full#

Tikki Tikki Tembo’s full name does not include any actual Chinese words, and it perpetuates the stereotype that Chinese words and names sound like nonsensical syllables ( from Wikipedia).

Tikki Tikki Tembo’s shoes are actually strikingly similar to traditional Japanese geta footwear, again reinforcing the inaccurate perception that all Asian cultures are the same.

Though the book’s illustrations are beautifully drawn by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Blair Lent, they do not authentically depict Chinese people, as noted by The Multiculturalist above.

The result is a story that is neither Japanese nor Chinese, and it exemplifies the racist attitude of, “Chinese, Japanese, what’s the difference, they’re all the same.” from Wikipedia Presumably, that tale was picked up and retold by Westerners, who mistakenly attributed it to China and added to the story. It is actually thought to be based on a Japanese folktale called Jugemu.

The book purports to be an “old Chinese folktale,” but it is not.It’s kind of a fake Chinese Folk Tale about why Chinese names are so short today.įor kids who might not have a lot of exposure to China, Chinese Americans and/or Chinese culture, it sets the wrong tone, implying that the Chinese are foolish and stupid. I want to suggest other books for Chinese New Year. I’ve read Tikki Tikki Tembo to my kids so many times that we all can say his long version name. Inside: Did you know that Tikki Tikki Tembo can set the wrong tone for Chinese culture? Grab these children’s books about the Chinese New Year to read instead.