Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo

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4.18 of 5 stars 4.18  ·  rating details  ·  25,237 ratings  ·  498 reviews
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...more
Paperback, 48 pages
Published April 17th 2007 by Square Fish (first published 1968)
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Irene
I always felt slightly uneasy about this story even when I was a child. So much so, that a few years ago I looked the book up to re-read it.

Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo reminded of the nonsense "Chinese" words kids would string together to mock me and the other Chinese kids in school. It's almost the equivalent of going up to a kid of Asian descent and chanting, "ching chong ching" --not necessarily racist but very ignorant.

I hope that these days there are fun, e...more
Jennifer Wardrip
Reviewed by Jaglvr for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com

You know you have a classic on your hands when your son sees the book you're showing him and goes, "I LOVE that book! We read it in library class!" So already, I had the battle half won when I told my two kids that I received the book and CD to review. As soon as we got in the car to drive to grandma's house, they asked me to put the CD in and leaned together in the back seat with the book open between them.

MacMillan Audio has taken a classic that is...more
Ian
Jan 10, 2008 Ian added it
Since I have a rather perverse fascination with being a killjoy when it comes to cultural myths about the Chinese, I looked up something I've been meaning to find for a long time.

http://www.fairrosa.info/disc/tikki.html

Of course I already knew that the name of the title character didn't sound Chinese at all. While I generally agree with the notion that the story doesn't accurately reflect historical Chinese culture, I still nonetheless like the the tale, especially the illustrations. There's thi...more
Kaycee
What's in a name? Tikki Tikki Tembo has a lot in his name, it's so long it takes three lines to say, his brother though has a much shorter and easily pronounced name, Chang. This ancient Chinese folktale tells the story of why the Chinese now give their children short, easy names to say. This is a fun tale and the lines are very rhythmic, though the don't contain any rhyming. The flow of the story and the tempo work very well, and it easy to see as a reader how it could have been adapted from an...more
Tessa Ann
When I was younger I had read this book and enjoyed it, so when I had saw it at the book store the other day I wanted to read it to remember why I enjoyed it so much. After reading it I came to realize why I had enjoyed it so much. I really enjoyed his name Tikki tikki tembo no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, yes it was very long but i looked forward to saying it over and ver again. I think that children would love this book because it rhymes and what kid doesn't like to rhyme? You can...more
Lena
Grade/Interest level: Primary/ Upper Elementary (K-3rd)
Reading Level: Lexile, 1090
Genre: Picture Book, Multicultural Literature, Traditional Literature

Main Characters: Tikki Tikki Tembo-No Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo, Chang, Mother
Setting: Ancient China
POV: Narrator

Summary: "Tikki Tikki Tembo" is book that is set in ancient China. The story starts off by saying in ancient China the names of the first born sons were really long and elaborate. They were really hard to say and they we...more
Taylor Adams
Main Characters: Tikki Tikki Tembo, Chang and the towns people

Settings: China

P.O.V: Third Person

Summary: This book talks about customs in ancient China where the first born son would be honored by their parents and given an elaborate long name that everyone has to say. The boys name is Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo (The Most Wonderful Thing in the Whole Wide World) and his brother has a simple name Chang. They play near a water well after their mother told them to...more
Rachel Kenney
Grade/interest level: Primary
Reading level: 1090 Lexile
Genre: Picture Book/Fables/Multicultural Literature
Main Characters: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, Chang, Mother
Setting: Ancient China
POV: Narrator

Tikki Tikki Tembo is book that is set in ancient China. The story starts off by saying in ancient China the names of the first born sons were really long and elaborate. They were really hard to say and no one could shorten them. However, the name of the second bo...more
Savanah
Reading Level: 3.7 (Lexile: 1090L)
Interest Level: K-2
Genre: Multicultural Literature, Fables, Folk Tale
Main Character: Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo
Setting: China
POV: Narrator

This is a fantastic book and has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. This is a story about a tradition in the Chinese culture where the first and honored sons great long names. In this story there are two boys, Chang the second born son and Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari r...more
Emily Cunningham
Absolutely loved this book as a child, and now my two year-old loves it. Each time I read Tikki's name, I tickle my daughter and she waits the entire story in giggling dread for the next repetition of the child's name. I greatly value the story for its teaching of cause and effect (I once, like Chang and Tikki, similarly ignored my mother's stern warning and fell into a creek; I'll never forget the surprise of that moment as I had been sure I was invincible and had things under control - classic...more
Courtney Turpen
This Tikki Tikki Tembo book is about a mother and her two sons. One, which is the oldest son who has a very long name and is considered the best of the two sons. The youngest son has a very short name and is not appreciated at all. When the youngest son fell into to well the mother got the old man with the ladder, they pulled him out, then talked about his foolish ways. Then the brothers eventually went back and the oldest son fell in the second time. The mother could hardly believe the story. S...more
Jade Nguyen
1. Folktale/Fable

2. Two Chinese brothers, the first-born named Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo and the second born named Chang, both fall into a well at different points in the story. Chang is immediately saved by the old man, but it takes longer for Tikki Tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo to be saved and recover due to his long name.

3a. Area for comment: Accuracy ( - )

3b. The title, Tikki Tikki Tembo, does not accurately represent the ancient...more
Ronyell
I actually first heart of this book on a Weston Woods video and I really enjoyed this story! “Tikki Tikki Tembo” is an old Chinese folktale retold by Arlene Mosel along with illustrations by Blair Lent and it is about how a young boy named Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruche-pip peri pembo (what a name!) gets into big trouble because of his long name. “Tikki Tikki Tembo” is certainly a great book for children who are fans of Chinese folklore!

I have always found this book extremely int...more
Missy Kutyla
Sarah, Thanks for bringing back fun memories. This became one of my favorite read-alouds in my student teaching days based on how my third-grade students responded to this literature. I did a section on international festivals and symbolisms in other cultures for social studies and made informational animals/dragon symbolism posters to hang in the room. I had this incredibly long name on the board with some words covered to see who was familiar with the story and build anticipation. Some kids wo...more
Asho
I loved this book when I was a kid. The repetition of Tikki-tikki-tembo's long name is great fun. I remember also being very intrigued, and sort of troubled-in-a-fascinated-way by the idea that a parent might favor one child over another, so in that sense this book sent me off on some early childhood critical thinking. I also really liked the illustrations when I was little because they felt very different from the illustrations in most of my other books (Mosel's The Funny Little Woman has simil...more
Caroline
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Retold by Arlene Mosel
Illustrated by Blair Lent
Winner of the Horn Book Award

Where's the Math?

Based off of an old Chinese folk tale, Tikki Tikki Tembo tells the story of a small boy and his brother who keeps falling into the well. Tikki Tikki Tembo has such a long time, and so whenever his brother tells his mother that Tikki Tikki Tembo has fallen into the well, it takes such a long time for him to tell her, that his mother doesn't listen. Finally, the old man with the ladder sa...more
Nicholas Humilier
Grade/interest level: K-2
Lexile: 1090
Reading level: 3.7
Genre: Traditional Literature, Multicultural Literature

Main Characters: Tikki Tikki Tembo, Mother, Chang, Old Man
Setting: China
POV: Third Person

This folktale takes place in ancient China. Many years ago, parents gave their first born son long elaborate names to display their prominence in the family. The second born son, and others to follow, were given less significant names. Tikki Tikki Tembo is the first born son, and his younger brother...more
Melissa
Tikki Tikki Tembo
By Arlene Mosel

Genre: Traditional Literature

In a small village in China, Tikki Tikki Tembo and his younger brother often accompany their mother to the river to wash their clothes. Next to the river is a deep well that the boys like to play on. The boys, at one point or another, fall in the well. It is only Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo had such a long name that the poor boy almost perished in the bottom of the well.

Critique:
A. The area for critiq...more
Yuliati
One thing that really bothers me is that the long name Tikki Tikki Tembo-no ...... doesn't mean "the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world" and also 'Chang' doesn't mean "little or nothing". In fact, the long name 'tikki tikki tembo-no .... ' is sound more Japanese than Chinese. As someone who understand Chinese & Japanese language, I feel it is very annoying to tell a wrong thing to the children. I actually confused them by teaching the wrong meanings of "Chang". While it's probably...more
Alexa Maring
I used to LOVE this book as a child! The character's name brought such rhythm to the story, it was almost intoxicating to say. Children love to say the name! In a read aloud, let them insert his name, rather than reading it on your own. Let them be a part of the story! As many children's story share, the moral of this story is to listen when you are told something. Not listening to his mother wound little Chang at the bottom of a well! Not learning their lesson the first time, Tikki tikki tembo-...more
Marjorie Estavillo
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, is one of my favorite books of all time! If you have not read it I highly recommend it! This book is really fun to read in a big group, especially when a great story teller reads it to you! This this story starts off with two little boys who take a trip up to the well! When the first born and most honored son Tikki tikki tempo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, fell into the well it's up to Chang to go get help to get him out! Change has to run all ov...more
u1124876 UEL
This is tale of young Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, who is the first born son, and his little brother called Chang! The long name means 'the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world' and his little brother’s name means 'little or nothing'.

I can imagine having a lot fun reading this with a class of lower KS1 children and possibly role playing Tikki Tikki Tembo falling down the well and Chang rushing, with his little legs, to tell Mother. I would need excellen...more
Mindy
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Sarah
This is one of my favorite folktales. I remember my school librarian reading this to my class during library time in my early elementary school years. The full name of the title character was so catchy, having a musical, rhythmic feel to it. We anxiously awaited each chance to try chiming in on the telling of the boy’s impossibly long name, each time getting a little better at pronouncing and relaying each part of the name. When I started teaching bilingual Spanish-speaking primary students, I p...more
Chandra
Despite the fact that this isn't a 'real' folktale and recent charges of cultural inaccuracy and stereotyping I still loved this book. I feel a little guilty, but it's seriously a read aloud dream. I really think it's all just in good fun. If a child lives in an open minded and culturally aware household I can't imagine that this book will do any harm.
Dolly
Jul 12, 2008 Dolly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: parents reading with kids
We love this story! It's so fun to read aloud and we also enjoyed listening to this read aloud on a CD in the car. It's a folktale with gorgeous and funny illustrations and a story that is a tongue-twister to read aloud. Our girls love saying the number one precious son's name aloud...over and over and over again. We've read this book several times.
Jennifer
As a child, I loved this story and my poor mother to read it every night for who knows how long. I remembered it so fondly I couldn't wait to read it to my children. The song songy name of the child is much longer than the title and so fun to say when you're a kid. I was horrified to finally find the book at my mothers and read it to my 4 year old. The nostalgia and childhood niavete masked the awfulness of this story about a mother who only cares for one child, her firstborn. The lesson is rein...more
Nicole Thompson
When I was younger I absolutely loved reading this book. I found it on a website listing social issue books, and decided to read it again. this book definitely contains social issues, those of the chinese culture and how it can effect its children. This book is about a boy named Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo. His name is so long because he is the first born son in his family. His younger brother grows to strongly dislike his own very short name because it doesn't...more
Nancy
Aug 29, 2011 Nancy rated it 1 of 5 stars
Shelves: kids
I love this story. I love the repetition. I love the rhythm of the repeated name. It's funny. But it doesn't feel at all Chinese. It feels condescending--those funny Asians with their nonsense language.

When a teacher I taught with included this and several other stories "about China" in a unit on China, I had to squirm. I had just returned from living in China and wanted to give the kids a feeling for actaul Chinese folktales

Tiki Tiki Tembo is probably based on a Japanese story in which the dad...more
Finn Pennekamp
This book, which came from my friends Kate and Stu, is awesome in many, many ways. First of all, the illustrations are incredible. Secondly, it's fun every time my parents try to say Tikki Tikki Tembo's full name: Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo.

After reading this book, though, I am extremely glad that I am forever and always First and Most Honorable Son. Because if I learned anything from this story, it's that NO ONE likes the younger sibling. Seriously, not a sin...more
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Tikki Tikki Tembo (Hardcover)
Tikki Tikki Tembo (Paperback)
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo (Paperback)
Tikki Tikki Tembo (Paperback)

Arlene Tichy Mosel was a American author of children's literature who was best-known for her illustrated books Tikki Tikki Tembo, a retelling of a Chinese folk tale, and the award-winning The Funny Little Woman, which was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1973.

She was born as Arlene Tichy on August 27, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio to Edward J. Tichy, an engraver and Marie Fingul...more
More about Arlene Mosel...
The Funny Little Woman Strega Nona and Other Stories from Near & Far [with Headphones]

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