Tikki Tikki Tembo

by Arlene Mosel
Tikki Tikki Tembo
published
April 17th 2007 (first published 1968) by Square Fish
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binding
Paperback, 32 pages

isbn
0312367481   (isbn13: 9780312367480)

description
<DIV>Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-
chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!

Three decades and more than one million copies l...more





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Children's Litera...: The Big Words Award 10 19 10/13/2008 05:46PM  
Tikki Tikki Tembo 5 4 06/11/2007 05:20PM  



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 956)



Ebookwormy
Ebookwormy rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
05/15/08

bookshelves: fiction, kids-preschool
Read in May, 2008
This book is reputed to be a classic, and my husband can remember participating in library story times where all the children recited Tikki-Tikki-Tembo's name.

The positives of this book are the memorable rhythm and the asian look and feel, created by the illustrations and word choices. Another positive is the younger, brother, Chang's loyalty to his older, favored, brother.

However, the negatives are the mother's favoritism and the old man's indifference to the boys' safety. Disregard f...more
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Ian
Ian added it
01/10/08

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/...

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...more
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Jennifer
Jennifer rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
09/21/07

bookshelves: childrensliterature
recommends it for: Everyone with children
I realise the current school of thinking in our politically-correct society has caused this work to fall out of favour, since it is not actually a Chinese story, and the name is a bit too sterotypical. However, I was introduced to this work by my Chinese kindergarten teacher around 1980. He found it utterly charming, and I still remember it... if you google the main character's name, you'll find generations of children remembering the refrain and trying to place the book so they can purchase it ...more
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Amanda
Amanda rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
10/30/07

Beautiful drawings and a charming story. I had this book when I was small, and looking at it take me back to happy times of my Mom reading me the story.

I buy it for my friends with new babies. I love reading it to children, they love the repitition of the fabulous name. Tikki-tikki-tembo-no-sa-rembo-cheri-beri-ruchi-pip-peri-pembo, it just flows off the tongue, doesn't it?

I understand from reading on the web that some people are now down on the book because it is racist. I think that som...more
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Alicia
Alicia rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/25/08

This book has different illustrations and is an interesting story. We checked it out from the library and my daughter loved it. My only issue is the mother...I could not stand the mother in this book! I was looking forward to taking it back to the library, but my daughter ripped it apart during a tantrum (which got her into more trouble) and they let us keep it when we paid for the book. As much as I didn't like the mother, my daughter really liked the story (we read it almost every night be...more
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Cana
Cana rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/12/08

bookshelves: lovett-kindergarten
Read in August, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Alisa
Alisa rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/14/07

Read in January, 1987
recommends it for: every man woman and child
Best book ever. When Crissy and I were in Arleth they used to have this big old woman who would read to us in the library. Every class would go to the library and the lady would read us a book. And this was one of our favorites. I bought it for Ethan before he was even born. (reference my myspace photos for a pic of him reading it) its a book we've always loved and never forgot and I can't wait to pass it on to my kid as well.
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Audrey
Audrey rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/05/07

bookshelves: childrens-fiction
This is one of the best picture books there is. The slightly repetitive narrative structure, the rhythmic nature of Tikki Tikki Tembo's name, everything about it makes it a perfect story book. It was one of the most beloved books of my childhood--and my parents read me heaps of books. This one stood out to the extent that when I revisited it at the age of twenty I still remembered a lot of the exact wording.
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Christine
Christine rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/11/08

bookshelves: childrens-literature
We've all heard this story at some point, but I bet most of us have HEARD it and not read it! :)

It's fun and cute, but it's likely it ISN'T a real Chinese (or Japanese) folktale. (Big surprise, right?) It seems to be, from what I can find, a story passed down orally in the States. I have no idea where it came from, and it seems no one else does, either!
http://www.fairrosa.info/disc/...
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Amy
Amy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/17/07

Read in January, 1983
recommends it for: Everyone
I was read this book in second grade by Mrs. Buer.
I was facinated by Tiki Tiki Tembo's name, but during the aging process forgot most of it.

Last Memorial Day, I found it in a used book store in Platsville, Nebraska for $1.90!

What a good day.

Lesson learned: Keep the kiddies with the short names and stay away from wells.

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T
T rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/11/08

Read it in 2nd grade, and as many small children are apt to do, I grabbed hold of the chance to annoy everybody within hearing by reciting Tikki Tikki Tembo's ENTIRE name for weeks ad nauseam until the name remains ingrained in my memory even now. A cute and fun story for little annoying tykes such as myself to amuse themselves.
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Jackie "the Librarian"
10/25/07

bookshelves: childrensbooks, picturebooks
Read in January, 1990
recommends it for: ages 5 and up
A tale that explains why Chinese people give their children short names. You never know when a kid might fall down a well, see, and need rescuing.
Is this politically correct? I hope so, because I love reading this one to 1st and 2nd graders! They really enjoy the long name of the older son, and its repetition over and over.
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Jennybug
Jennybug rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
09/09/08

bookshelves: children-books
This was one of my very favorite books as a kid. I just loved it. I can still remember how proud I was when I memorized his long, long, name. Tikki Tikki Tembo Na Sar Rembo cherri berri richi pit peri pembo. I am not sure if I spelled that right. What a great name. (I am really glad I ended up going with Jake)
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Angelica
Angelica rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/07/08

bookshelves: reading-repeatedly-to-niamh
Read in May, 2008
Thanks to Ari, we have this one out from the library right now. Niamh is fascinated by the story (what is it about near-death experiences that is so interesting?), but I think she also just likes the rhythm of Tikki Tikki's name. We also own another of Arlene Mosel's books, but Niamh is afraid of that one.
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Kristy
Kristy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/01/08

I love this book! I remember my parents reading it to me and my brothers when we were little. Now I read it to my girls and they love it too. The illustrations are so fun, I remember when I was little looking at some of the pictures and imagining I was in them, running to the old man with the ladder.
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Heidi
Heidi rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/20/08

bookshelves: childrens, fiction, humor, picture-books
I'm sure I read this when I was younger, or it was read to me. Not sure exactly, though. I just know that somewhere in growing up, I was able to say the rhyme along with everyone else. I still can say part of it today--although I don't know if I'm pronouncing all of the words correctly.
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Mary
Mary rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/12/08

bookshelves: childrens
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo!
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Bevin
Bevin rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/23/08

Read in January, 1974
I love this children's book!!! Dreamy illustrations created with such a distinct style that expresses a delicate world I would like to visit. Glorious story (I am the second child, so I am biased). I reread this whenever I need to go back to my childhood or just go.
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jacky
jacky rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/07/08

bookshelves: childrens-picture-books, read-to-me
Read in January, 1989
This was the play we put on my second time through the second grade (the first time it was called "Going Buggy" and it was a much better production). I am guessing that the teacher read this story to us as well as the script, or that the script was the book.
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Bridget
Bridget rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/09/08

bookshelves: children-cultures-foreign, favorites
Read in January, 1971
Another early book for me that I loved to hear... I can still say the main rhyme... Tikki, Tikki, Tembo no saw rembo, charri barri ruchi, pip perry pembo, fell into the well.

See it is important that we read to our kids! It has a lasting impression!
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 4.30 (861 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 4.30 (781 ratings)
number of reviews: 127







other editions

Tikki Tikki Tembo (An Owlet Book)
Tikki Tikki Tembo (Hardcover)
Tikki Tikki Tembo (Paperback)