The Story of Little Black Sambo

Book Description

The jolly and exciting tale of the little boy who lost his red coat and his blue trousers and his purple shoes but who was saved from the tigers to eat 169 pancakes for his supper, has been universally loved by generations of children. First written in 1899, the story has become a childhood classic and the authorized American edition with the original drawings by the author has sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

Little Black Sambo is a book that speaks the common language of all nations, and has added more to the joy of little children than perhaps any other story. They love to hear it again and again; to read it to themselves; to act it out in their play.

Customer Reviews:

little black sambo.......2007-09-16

check book dimensions. I was surprised at the size. My mother read this book as a child and has always wanted a copy. I knew of the controversy but had never seen the book myself. After buying it I was eager to see what the fuss was about. I don't get! Apparently it is the pictures which were not done buy a professional(in 1899). As for the name sambo, it was turned into a slur by some bigot and probably would have happened with any name chosen. I'm sure many will be offended when I say "get over it" you brought more attention to this "offense" than it ever would have gotten otherwise. EVERYONE has had an unflattering portrayal at sometime. Let it go. I thought it was a cute story.

Review of book purchase........2007-09-10

I was very pleased with my purchase - prompt and efficient service, reasonable price. I was a little surprised that the book was "mini" size and wished that had been indicated; but I liked it nevertheless. I would definitely purchase again.

Important historically, but not delightful.......2007-04-26

To me, it is not a matter of being offended or not. But if you can read this without any discomfort you need to review your history. Of course kids can like it, but they like throwing rocks at ducks too. What is disturbing to me is how anyone can be nostalgic for a colonial past. Sambo is very lovable, but that is the point. It paid to maintain that the 'primitive' races were childlike, endearingly innocent. This idea of a paternalistic love actually supported Western dominance. They were the 'white man's burden,' permanently in childlike relation to the West, incapable of self rule or living in a modern world. In exchange for being guided to civilization, their natural resources could be had for the superior races. The childlike, innocent native is cut from the same cloth as the threatening cannibal, or the easily scared servant, or the lazy slave. All of these stories came out of that system of beliefs. This is not an Indian folk tale, however clever and tricky Sambo is. This is not, as one reviewer writes, "A loving attempt to reach across the racial divide." The historical record contradicts this reading. Read just a line or two from the official reports written by colonial administrators like Helen Bannerman's husband. This kind of nostalgia erases the history of colonial rule. Maintaining divisions between a ruling class (British) and a subaltern class (colonial subjects) was the whole point of colonialism, of which this tale is a product.You and your children may find this character cute and cuddly, but stop and think about that. So are puppies. It is quite possible to love your mammy or your servant, just as you love your dog. (The mother in this tale is a direct relation of Aunt Jemima and her pancake mix, introduced at the Chicago World's Fair just two years previously) Exactly WHO is nostalgic for this past? I understand how remembering black slaves and coolies as 'happy darkies' is a lot less painful than actually remembering the truth. This was not a simpler time but one in which brutal subordination of a people was sanctioned by the state. If you miss that 'simpler time' I hope you don't live next door to me. My children would not be safe.

Rembering the good old days.......2007-03-09

My wife and I had this book when we were children. We are now in our late 60s.And often talked about this book. Didn't know we could still buy them. This was a great little book.Think every one should read this book. keep up the good work. Thanks

Noteworthy Because of its historical context.......2007-03-05

I recall Little Black Sambo from my childhood as well. My Aunt worked as a domestic for a Jewish household and they would give her their children's discarded playthings to take to her nephews. Little Black Sambo was among the offerings. I remember reading with fascination the story of this child and I knew nothing at the time of its racist connotations. Unfortunately, despite the denial of some of the prior reviewers, it cannot be ignored that this book might be considered offensive to some. Just like the black lawn jockeys that were so popular at one time, and the Aunt Jemima pancake box before they took the bandana off of her head, these icons represent post cival rights era reality. I supppose some of you see nothing wrong with the Little Rascal character Farina with the rags tied in his head, or Buckweat either. I would not advocate banning any of the aforementioned symbols, because I think they should be cherished as a sign of just how far we've come. I have mammy salt and pepper shakers, cookie jars, etc., because as a Black man in America, I want to remember and cherish the past. If I find the version of this book I had as child in which Sambo was jet black with white eyes and huge red lips, I'd add it to my collection in a heartbeat!

The Story of Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk)

Average customer rating:

"The White Man's Burden"
Black Sambo lives forever
A Wonderful Story of a Loving Family
Racism starts in young
Childhood memories

The Story of Little Black Sambo (Wee Books for Wee Folk)
Helen Bannerman
Manufacturer: Applewood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557094144

Book Description

The classic story by Helen Banner man of a young Indian boy who meets up with a tiger and turns him into butter.

Customer Reviews:

"The White Man's Burden".......2007-04-26

This is not, as one reviewer writes, "A loving attempt to reach across the racial divide." Unfortunately the historical record contradicts this reading, and this kind of nostalgia for a 'simpler time' erases the history of colonial rule. Maintaining divisions between a ruling class (British) and a subaltern class (colonial subjects) was the whole point of colonialism. The story of a cute native is part and parcel of the same ideology that produces the story of the threatening savage, or the easily scared native. Even if he is clever. This idea supported Western dominance. You may find this character cute and cuddly, but stop and think about that. So are puppies. It paid to maintain that the 'primitive' races were refreshingly childlike, endearingly innocent, incapable of self rule or living in a modern world. They were the 'white man's burden,' and their natural resources could be had for the superior races. You would see this more clearly if you had a look at any of the official papers written by colonial administrators like Helen Bannerman's husband. All of these stories came out of that system of beliefs. Exactly WHO is nostalgic for this past? Certainly not Black and Brown descendants of a conquered people. This was not a simpler time but one in which brutal subordination of a people was sanctioned by the state. If you miss that 'simpler time' I hope you don't live next door to me. My children would not be safe.

Black Sambo lives forever.......2006-04-22

This is the best book my parents have ever read to me. I lauged when asked if black peoples lips are really that big. They told me yes but that Maxine Waters has the biggest. Well i don't know who he is but i think the writer meant to say waffles instead of pancakes at the end. Oh and the father didn't drink malt liquer so that's why i think this isn't a true story.

A Wonderful Story of a Loving Family.......2006-03-07

Bannerman, a white Scot living in India, wrote a children's fantasy about a young Black boy and his loving family. Negative attacks of this work reveal people who use the material as mirrors to guilty souls that live in irrational fear. Their solution to handle this state is empty appeasement and shallow references to stereotypical Black history. This ignores the rich heritage of "unpopularized" Black cultural artifacts. Authors of one race can write about characters of another without being racist. Racist symbols are picked from many non racist sources. The racist use of the word "Sambo" and the similarity of the illistrations to "Blackface" style is after the fact and unfortunate. The book "The Story of Little Black Sambo" is really a loving attempt to reach across a racial divide and can be used in a positive way today.

Racism starts in young.......2005-05-08

Whether Sambo is African, African American, or Indian, he still represents a colonized or enslaved people who are nearly always identified as childlike and ignorant. This was true for the Indians who were colonized by the British, the Africans enslaved by Europeans, and African Americans enslaved and held down by structural racism in America. And they continue to be portrayed like this main character. The problem with this book is that the racism is masked within a child's story, and is therefore entertaining. For those of you who don't see the harm in it, imagine reading a white counterpart in this story. What if the character were Polish? How would your reaction be different? It is perhaps easier now to see then that this story may be hurtful to some people? Other white counterparts of Sambo include the invariably inebriated Irishman or Scotsman, the ever questioning and unintelligent Swede, or the ever mob-affiliated Italian--all of which are extraordinarily offensive, though they have been lodged within various forms of entertainment for years such as movies and jokes. The fact that sometimes this book sells off the shelves is no surprise because most people don't understand the racial significance of this book and don't care to know (as seen in such reviews celebrating the greatness of this book). The privilege of calling ones preferences "not racist" comes with scrutinizing every aspect of things we like, and rooting out anything that is even in the slightest bit racist. If for you this book is a great book devoid of racism, well, you might want to think twice about thinking yourself as a progressive, unbiased person when it comes to race. If you're reading this book for any reason, it should be coupled with a class on racist ideology and how American culture is infused with it in the shape of seemingly benign forms of advertising and entertainment (i.e. Dairy Queen's "Moolatte", Aunt Jemima, etc). This is therefore not a children's book. For something a lot less offensive, that introduces your kids to other cultures, try Favorite African Folktales edited by Nelson Mandela.

Childhood memories.......2005-02-27

Little Black Sambo was one of my favorite stories as a first grader. My school was blown away by a tornado in 1942 and the my book with it. At 67, I still remember the tigers melting into butter. He was my hero. I ran a google search and was delighted to find it. I agree, " the truth is that the story is delightful, and depicts Sambo as a smart, inventive and perceptive young boy." It should not be offensive to anyone. It is a wonderful story for a 4 to 6 year old.

Average customer rating:

Be ready to wait for this item
A Clever boy
great
beautiful edition
Little Black Sambo with illustrations by Bing

The Story of Little Black Sambo
Helen Bannerman
Manufacturer: Handprint
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1929766556

Book Description

A remarkable celebration from the Caldecott Honor-winning artist!
A clever young boy outwits a band of voracious tigers and returns home in triumph to a splendid feast of a yard-high stack of pancakes. The story, penned by Helen Brodie Bannerman for her two daughters in 1889, has captured the imagination of readers around the world and across many generations. But the pictures which accompanied her text were crudely stereotypical and hurtful to many. Caldecott Honor-winning artist Christopher Bing has spent almost fifteen years rediscovering the joy and energy of the original story. He respects that Bannerman was writing in an Indian setting and with Indian animals-after all, there are no tigers in Africa-and faithfully adheres to the original text. However, recognizing that the image of Sambo has been used as a symbol of repression of Africans and African-Americans, Christopher Bing celebrates Sambo as proudly African, a child of beauty and joy, wit and resourcefulness.
In recreating the illusion of an antique, weathered, tiger-clawed storybook filled with exquisitely detailed paintings that draw upon a lush jungle-inspired palette, Christopher Bing s interpretation of Sambo s world seamlessly melds a grand sense of wonder with the minutiae of nature, and a story with history.

Customer Reviews:

Be ready to wait for this item.......2007-06-07

I ordered this item in December, it is now June ... be advised, you'll have to wait more than 1-3 months for this item.

A Clever boy.......2007-04-17

This book is beautifully made, and features a strong, clever boy of color who gets gifts from his parents, outwits the tigers, and feeds his family by his cleverness. I have liked every book Christopher Bing has worked on, and think this is one of the best. I am certain I do not want to perpetuate a stereotype or raise my children with any racism, but I do no think that this incarnation of the book does that.

great.......2007-01-12

My kids love it just like I did and it arrived quickly and in good condition.

beautiful edition.......2006-03-17

gorgeous illustrations and great font. my grandchild (not yet three) was spellbound.

Little Black Sambo with illustrations by Bing.......2004-12-06

I saw this book in a bookstore this summer. I have been getting other editions from England to give to children as gifts. This is a magnificent book with great illustrations by Bing. I have read the other reviews and trust me that this story stands on its own to delight children. When I taught second grade the class loved to hear it. It is not racist in the least.Sambo worries that he will get into trouble when he loses all his new clothes. And children relate to getting into trouble with their parents. He uses his head to outwit the tigers and children naturally indentify with him; like they do with other hero figures in books and television and movies. He has a loving home with two parents who sit down with him to enjoy a wonderful pancake breakfast at the end of the story. Little Black Sambo is a story of a timeless hero! Stop worrying that the setting is India and the child looks African for Pete`a sake! Its FICTION!! Children don`t care about such picky details! This story has been delighting children for generations. Adults should go find something else to stew about!

The Tiger in the Well (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Strange, good, satisfying
Best of the Trilogy
Interesting portrait of immigrants in Victorian England
"You Don't Know Her, She'll Fight..."
A MUST READ!!!

The Tiger in the Well (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 3)
Philip Pullman
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0679826718
Release Date: 1992-02-18

Book Description

Sally, now 25, is comfortably settled with her child, Harriet, her work, and her London friends. But when a complete stranger claims to be both her husband and Harriet's father, Sally's whole world comes crashing down around her. With nowhere to turn, she escapes with Harriet into the slums of London's East End--and finds help in some unexpected quarters.

"Pullman is fast becoming a modern-day Dickens for young adults. The setting is the same, the strong eye for characters is there, as are the brooding atmosphere, the social conscience, and the ability to spin plot within plot. Sally Lockhart is now a young woman, left alone with a toddler. Nothing prepares her for the shock of receiving a summons from a man she has never even heard of, suing for divorce and the custody of her beloved Harriet. Sally struggles against the net closing around her, seeking to find out who is persecuting her and why. The writing style is lively and direct, and there's lots of action. This is a suspense novel with a conscience, and a most enjoyable one."--School Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

Strange, good, satisfying.......2007-10-05

I loved Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy so much, so I picked up his Sally Lockhart series to keep my glow going. They're really good; not quite as incredible as the HDM books, but very interesting, engaging and suspenseful. I loved the first book in the series; the second was confusing but very good too. This one, book 3, was a very odd book, with odd characters, to put it mildly. But it was even more gripping than the previous Sally Lockhart installment. Some awful things happen in it, too; I cried several times throughout reading this. I most definitely recommend this, but read books 1 and 2 first, to get the background of the characters and their motivations.

Best of the Trilogy.......2005-08-11

I stayed up until 3 a.m. reading this book on a night before I had to go to work. It was worth every minute: a page-turning thriller that would put any of the "adult" novels of the genre to shame.

Interesting portrait of immigrants in Victorian England.......2005-05-19

This book is quite different from the previous Sally Lockhart Mysteries for a couple of reasons: The story really doesn't involve the characters we'd come to know and enjoy in The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North, with the exception of Sally herself. It seems to be more of a political/social history of the "Jewish Question" and the prejudices of and persecutions by the lower classes against the new immigrants from eastern Europe who came to settle and build a new life for themselves in London. Too, the identity of the Tzaddik was pretty transparent. I figured out who it was less than half-way through the book. Now I'm not saying it wasn't a good, fast-paced, exciting read...it was. I just think it was different and less of a YA type novel than the previous two. I think older YA readers (and adults) would be able to understand it more than the younger ones. It's a shame Mr. Pullman didn't continue with the Sally Lockhart series after The Tiger in the Well. I learned quite a bit about the times and the people of 19th Century London and am interested in learning more. Fortunately, I just received a copy of George MacDonald Fraser's latest novel Flashman on the March from amazon.uk. so I can continue my education about Victorian England and laugh at the misadventures of Sir Harry as he lies, cheats, and tries to get as far away from anything that hints of danger as possible...unless there is a beautiful woman somewhere to be pursude, wooed, and abandoned. Tally ho!

"You Don't Know Her, She'll Fight...".......2004-10-20

"The Tiger in the Well" is the third of the Sally Lockhart books, and definitely my favourite. Despite the prolonged absence of Jim Taylor, it is the darkest of the books, where the stakes are at their highest. Whilst Jim Taylor and Webster Garland are away on holiday, Sally receives a letter from a man named Mr Parrish, who claims that she is his wife and her baby daughter Harriet is his own. Making it worse, it accuses her of being an unfit mother, and that custody of Harriet should be given to Parrish. Sally is horrified - not only has she never heard of this man before, but the law is not on her side. Somehow there exists a marriage certificate for the two of them, and a birth certificate that testifies Parrish is Harriet's daughter. Despite help from her financial consultant Margaret Haddow and the servants of the house, Sally's case in a court of law seems hopeless - her lawyer didn't even know that Harriet was a girl! There seems only one thing to do, and that's take Harriet and disappear.

And so Sally and her daughter become fugitives, sinking from hotel rooms to poor houses to the street, whilst the law steadily closes in on her. How can she investigate the mystery surrounding her when she must also look after a baby? Soon however, she comes into the path of a man named Daniel Goldberg, a Jewish political writer who claims that they can help one another - he can give Sally a safe place for Harriet, and she can help him uncover the identity of the Tzaddik. This man is one who few have seen, but is feared by almost all, especially the Jewish community. They say he has a `dybbuk' for a servant, a little imp from hell that waits on him, and that he controls almost all the underworld dealings. More importantly however, Goldberg believes that he is behind Sally's dilemma.

"The Tiger in the Well" is definitely my favourite Sally Lockhart book, where Pullman excels himself in his writing skills. The predicament that Sally finds herself in is truly frightening - just think, at any moment your life could be pulled out from under your feet because of spiteful unknown powers. Her gradual decline is realistic and unsettling, and is made especially difficult with the presence of a young child (one who isn't potty trained and is slightly feverish to boot). Often she seems to be hanging at the end of a thread, and it's scary to see this capable woman put in such a position. In such cases, Pullman often gives us the most poignant scenes, such as a waiter advising Sally to change her give-away accent, or of Sally turning in shock, certain that Fred Garland (Harriet's father) is behind her.

For those who missed them in "The Shadow in the North", Rosa and Trembler make appearances, and although Jim Taylor is away for most of the book, he does return in time to make a splash with the invaders who take over his house. But this is mostly Sally's book, especially since we see her both at her strongest, and her most vulnerable.

Pullman also uses Daniel Goldberg has a device to highlight the exploitation of Jews and other immigrants coming into England, and the prejudice held against them - two realities that are sadly going on even today. Perhaps what comes across most vividly in the stories is the readiness with which people are prepared to turn on unknown foreigners, and eagerly foster their hate for those who seem to have more then them. Likewise is the truly appalling plan that the Tzaddik had organised for Harriet - I won't give it away, but it's just horrible, almost unthinkable. One thing that I didn't like however was the huge `deux ex machina' that Pullman instigates in order to resolve the story - for someone who presents himself as an atheist, he certainly heavily relies on the Hand of God in order to save Sally. Some fans of Fred may also not like the new love interest for Sally, and I myself thought it was a bit unnecessary (especially considering that Sally has always been presented as an independent young woman), but it certainly doesn't overshadow the more important aspects of the book.

"The Tiger in the Well" is also the book that has quite a bit of foreshadowing for Pullman's more famous works, the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, including a nasty little monkey, the power of stories, and even a glass of Tokay. It's always interesting linking up stories by the same author, and there are other little thematic touches that appear both here, and in the "Materials" trilogy. The Sally Lockhart books can be read out of order, but if you want to get the best out of this one, I definitely suggest reading "The Ruby in the Smoke" first - the Tzaddik's true identity won't have the same resonance if you don't.

One last note: the Amazon editorial review is from an entirely different book, and must have been posted on the wrong web page. If you're ordering this book, double-check to make sure you're getting the one you want.

A MUST READ!!!.......2004-08-30

this is the most enjoyable book...
the best ever...
when i started reading this book i didn't want to stop, and i didn't want to finish reading it.
i didn't want to finish those enjoyable days...
well, is philip pullman the best story teller ever???
ofcourse he is ...
this book let u live with sally and feel with her.
the best in the series

Average customer rating:

marshmallow coats rule
wow!
Creative, captivating and comical...
Great read-a-loud book
My Favorite Book

Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back

Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060256753

Amazon.com

First published in 1963, the late Shel Silverstein's children's book debut Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back, will resonate with young readers much as it did 40 years ago. The affable narrator Uncle Shelby's story begins: "Once there was a young lion and his name was--well, I don't really know what his name was because he lived in the jungle with a lot of other lions and if he did have a name it certainly wasn't a name like Joe or Ernie or anything like that." That all changes, however, when a circus man discovers the lion's skills as a marksman (the lion took a gun from a hunter he ate) and names him Lafcadio the Great. When the circus man takes Lafcadio to New York City, the story takes on a certain Crocodile Dundee quality--the lion eats the menu at a fancy restaurant, demands marshmallows (he likes the sound of them), and is captivated by the hotel elevator. As Lafcadio becomes more civilized and rich and famous, however, he becomes more unhappy. In the end, to entertain the increasingly despondent star, the circus man takes Lafcadio hunting in Africa where he encounters his old lion friends on the other end of his gun. Is Lafcadio now a man or is he a lion? He decides he is neither and wanders alone into the valley. In typical Silverstein style, this exuberantly-silly-yet-poignant fable, illustrated with simple, expressive line drawings, asks more questions than it answers. The glee the author derives from wordplay and the sound of language is positively contagious. This read-aloud classic belongs on every child's bookshelf. (Ages 6 to 10) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

"You don't have to shoot me," says the young lion. "I will be your rug and I will lie in front of your fireplace and I won't move a muscle and you can sit on me and toast all the marshmallows you want. I love marshmallows."

But the hunter will not listen to reason, so what is there for a young lion to do? After eating up the hunter, Lafcadio takes the gun home and practices and practices until he becomes the world's greatest sharp-shooter.

Now dressed in starched collars and fancy suits, and enjoying all the marshmallows he wants, Lafcadio is pampered and admired wherever he goes. But is a famous, successful, and admired lion a happy lion? Or is he a lion at all?

Told and drawn with wit and gusto, Shel Silverstein's modern fable speaks not only to children but to us all!

Customer Reviews:

marshmallow coats rule.......2007-04-06

Have you ever felt like you were torn between two worlds? Like, you want to fit in with this one group of new friends but in order to do that you kind of have to leave your old friends behind? Because the new friends and old friends are in way different places? Yeah. Same with Lafcadio.

He wants to be a good lion. He does. But then he gets all wrapped up in the world of humans. And the world of humans is not as simple as the world of lions, is it? No, it is not. So he can do some fun things, like have a marshmallow coat made for him because he just LOVES marshmallows, but life is not all marshmallows and roses. Lafcadio loses his identity. And at the end, he's conflicted about which world is his real home.

This is an awesome story about knowing your true self and being the person (or lion) you know you should be.

wow!.......2005-05-08

I hadn't heard of this book until a few years ago, when I came upon it and read a few pages in the bookstore. WOW!!! Although I appreciate Shel Silverstein's other stories and poems, nothing at all is like this one. And, that's a disappointment, because after reading this one to my children, we wanted MORE.

In my kids' schools, the Giving Tree was always considered such a classic, and praised as such. Lafcadio? Never mentioned! How disappointing, and oh, what those students are missing. Lafcadio isn't even in the school's library catalogue!

Lafcadio tells the story of a lion who comes to the city and becomes a gentleman--losing his lionly ways. But, Shel Silverstein tells this story so hilariously, I can barely read it aloud without laughing hysterically. I used to read this to my son, and literally could not get the words out without laughing uncontrollably. This, of course, caused my son to laugh as heartily without even knowing why. . . begging me to stop laughing and to tell him what was so funny. Lafcadio is an experience, that's for sure!

That said, this isn't a completely gentle book. It's probably the only book I've read to the kids that talked about eating people--and, made eating people funny. However, the unexpected quirkiness of the story is also what made it so hilarious. This is really a classic. Your kids will love it and you will love it.

Creative, captivating and comical..........2004-10-15

This book is about a lion named Lafcadio, who learnt to shoot using a gun and began shooting back at hunters - hence the name of the book! The story started when Lafcadio got hold of a hunter's gun and began learning to shoot. He practiced shooting day and night, and he got better and better as the days go by. He is never short of ammunition. To get more ammunition, he just eats up hunters who come into the jungle !!

Then one day, a man from the circus came and offered him a job in the circus. He accepted it with the condition that he get lots and lots of MARSHMALLOWS !!

So, off goes Lafcadio to the city. At the city, Lafcadio tried many different things. He had a haircut at a barbershop. He had a suit made of MARSHMALLOWS for him. And as the days passes, he came more and more human. He learnt to dance, swim and even bowl..

The story is full of wit. If you are looking for a gift for your little one, I would highly recommend this book!

Great read-a-loud book.......2003-12-23

I discovered this treasure after reading Shel's poetry books to the kids. I read it to them on a long flight across the country and had the people in the seats around me listening in discreetly. It has some great morals and gems in it. About knowing who you are inside and finding your way in this world. And about the absurdity of hunting from the lion's point of view. The kids just love the bit about every lion having their own hunter's rug.

My Favorite Book.......2001-05-27

Lafcadio is a young lion who is different from the rest. One day he meets face to face with hunters and he eats them up. He took the gun along with him. Everyday he went behind the mountain and practiced shooting and he became the best shooter in the jungle. But one day, a man came to him.

This book is great!! I first read it in fourth grade and I loved is so much, I read it more often!!

Average customer rating:

Detailed History of top Waffen SS Tiger Commanders!

Can't Give It 5 Stars but I do recommend it.

great book

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History)

A bit disappointed

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History)
Patrick Agte
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Panzer Aces II: Battle Stories of German Tank Commanders in World War II (Stackpole Military History Series)

ASIN: 0811733343

Book Description

German Panzer ace Michael Wittmann was by far the most famous tank commander on any side in World War II, destroying 138 enemy tanks and 132 anti-tank guns with his Tiger. This classic of armored warfare is both combat biography and unit history, as Patrick Agte focuses on the life and career of Wittmann but also includes his fellow Tiger commanders in the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Volume One covers the Eastern Front, where Wittmann racked up more than 100 kills and participated in the Battle of Kursk in 1943.

Customer Reviews:

Detailed History of top Waffen SS Tiger Commanders!.......2007-08-02

The Eastern Front experiences of the world's most successful tank ace, Michael Wittmann, and those of his fellow Waffen SS Tiger commanders of the Leibstandarte Division are covered in this first of two volumes published by Stackpole Books.

This first volume does provide a great deal of information of Wittmann and his comrades and the combat activities of the 4th (Heavy) Company from its creation in January 1943 to early June 1944 when Wittmann & his comrades, now part of the 101st SS Panzer Battalion, found themselves in France awaiting the Allied invasion. Numerous first-person accounts of Wittmann, the man and the military commander, abound. Though many are written in the stilted, stiff wartime style, they do present a coherent picture of an exemplary commander and a superlative fighting leader. The book also includes testimonials to other Waffen SS commanders and many accounts of Eastern Front action. Unfortunately the book, originally published in Germany, is a ponderous read.

The book also features over 300 photographs of Wittmann, his comrades, their tanks, Soviet opponents, etc. Unfortunately photo reproduction quality is poor; most shots are muddy. There are a number of battle maps included but they are are hard to understand and add little to the narrative. I did find the inclusion of the various units' Order of Battle fascinating. At a single glance you could see how many tanks the unit possessed, supporting flak units, scout cars, supply trucks, etc. and realize how large an organization the 10st, for example, was.

All in all, Agte's book is a mixed blessing. Lots of info on Wittmann, other Tiger commanders and Eastern Front battles but it's presented in a plodding, graceless narrative. Lots of rare photos but they're poorly reproduced, etc. Reasonable price ($19.95) but remember: you still need to pick up volume 2 to see how it all ends!

Your call!

Can't Give It 5 Stars but I do recommend it........2007-06-08

I read a couple of readers reviews before I purchased the book. I confirm or concur with what one of the reviewer's said. The maps are not the greatest and the cities mentioned in the text are hard to locate on them and you also need to purchase Vol 2 which continues the story of Wittmann. Vol 1 covers mostly the eastern front and some Italy and Wittmann's exploits there but you need Vol 2 for the western front. It is an easy reading book. More detail about the Tiger's performance aspects would have been good. I will write more on Vol 2 when finished.

great book.......2007-03-08

I really liked how the book not only delved into Michael Wittman, but also the explored the battles the he was in during WWII.

MICHAEL WITTMANN AND THE WAFFEN SS TIGER COMMANDERS OF THE LEIBSTANDARTE IN WWII, Vol. 1 (Stackpole Military History).......2007-01-11

A very good book to read, with a great deal of information about a WW II hero of the Germany Waffen SS (Michael Wittmann). This book also tell the story of other panzer commanders, and the men that fought in the heavy panze's battalions of WW II. I would also recommmend that you purchase Volume II right away, you wouldn't want to stop reading after you finish Vol. I.

A bit disappointed.......2006-10-27

I purchased this book and volume 2 on the hope of reading about Michael Wittman, at the time of this review I had not started the second volume.
The book does have a lot of information about the Tiger Aces of the Leibstandarte and their battles / triumphs but Michael Wittman has been regulated as one of the Tiger Aces. The book does give a number of mentions of him, but if you are looking for a history solely on him you are going to be disappointed, I gave the book 3 stars for that reason only, for an overall history of the Tiger Aces the book is worth 4 stars.

Average customer rating:

Hooray for Who Is The Beast?
Aah, my favorite!
The Beast is the Best
Who is the beast?
The Beast is the Best!

Who Is the Beast?
Keith Baker
Manufacturer: Voyager Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0152001220

Book Description

A friendly tiger is confused by jungle animals fleeing from a beast, until he discovers he is the beast! “Graced with a compelling beauty, this gifted author/illustrator’s imaginative story presents a timeless message to young readers.”--Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Hooray for Who Is The Beast?.......2005-07-28

As a parent of ten children (now grown) and a first grade teacher of 7 years now, I love this book-as do my students. It is colorful,encourages imaginative thinking and easy to follow. I use it for our animal unit as well as discussing story elements.

Aah, my favorite!.......2003-08-22

A tiger wonders why everything avoids him, and compares his body
to other creatures. We love this book for the extraordinary artwork, full of detail.

The Beast is the Best.......2001-07-18

I have no children of my own but have been a nanny for 6 years. Of all the stories I've read . . . this is by far the best! I give it to every person I know with children! Thank you for such a wonderful story, such beautiful artwork and such wonderful sounds!

Who is the beast?.......2000-07-28

This is a true picture book-as the pictures tell the story beyond the words. The illustrations go the distance for story time reading, as well as working for up close inspection (be sure to look for that unconcerned snail on every page!). I just never tire of this book and its illustrations, and I have been a fan of it for six years. The illustration of carp, tiger, and jungle folliage provide visual saturation satisfaction. The simple repetitious rhymes are fun to say, they roll off the lips in a way not always found in rhyming text, with wonderful repeating sounds. The story message is sweet, loud and clear, yet subtle at the same time. Thank you for this gem, Mr. Baker!

The Beast is the Best!.......2000-05-16

A gentle reminder that we are not all so different after all.

My two young boys love this book - just as they love The Magic Fan by the same author. It's one of their favorite bedtime stories.

The illustrations feature some of the most beautiful colors and overall design. My kids really like the way the artwork goes all the way to the edge of the page.

Book Description

Far away in the deep rolling ocean lived Smiley Shark. Smiley Shark longed to dip and dive, jiggle and jive, dart and dash with a splish and a splash with all the other fish; but whenever he smiled at them they swam away. But when all of the other fish are trapped in a fishermanâ€™s net, itâ€™s up to Smiley Shark to find away to free themâ€”and he saves the day with his big, toothy smile!

Customer Reviews:

I think I like this more than my child does!.......2007-05-19

I absolutely love this book. It has become my favorite to read to my sea-life obsessed [...] out of the many books we have. The story is adorable, the illustrations are wonderful and overall it is definitely 5 stars in our book.

Good for calming fears.......2007-01-16

I bought this book for my 4 year old son. He used to loves sharks, but a few months ago developed a strong fear of them. For a month straight, he was afraid to go to bed because he said he got "bad nightmares" about sharks. He would toss and turn and cry out in his sleep, so I know that he wasn't just trying to stay up later. As soon as I read the description for Smiley Shark, I thought it sounded perfect.

I am happy to report that he loves the book and was willing to believe that the shark was just smiling and not scary. The illustrations are bright and cheerful; he loves the expressions on the various sea creature's faces.

Great preschool read.......2005-02-18

My preschoolers love this book. Smiley shark is a great book for learning about the ocean or talking about teeth or just having fun reading. The story line is simple. All the creatures are scared of Smiley Shark until one day he saves them from a fisherman's net and they all become his friend. the Story is wrote very nicely and the art work is wonderful. I have read this book several time to the children and they often will ask to read it again. Another great book is "Shark Trouble," About two monkeys trapped on small seperate islands with sharks swimming around the islands. All the kids love the shark books.

Sharky's book review.......2003-12-08

This is a great book for children to read or for parents to read to their children. This book installs a mentality into a childs thoughts that no matter what others think or say or do, you can alwayus be a good person and help others. It also means that what you think is a handicapp now could help you or your friends later on down the road. This is a great book for begining readers or for parents just reading to their children.

Great Book.......2003-11-28

Our 2.5 yr old son has a love/hate relationship with sharks. Loves them, but is also scared of them. I got him this book to help him overcome his fear of sharks (they always seem to be in his closet or under his bed at night - thank goodness our dog can sleep in his room & "eat" the sharks).

We've had the book less than 24 hours & we've read it to him at least 6 times already. He thought it was sad that the others would not play with him. Now he just loves sharks.

Book Description

Illus. in full color. The Cat in the Hat tells us three zany stories-in-verse about his son, his daughter, and his great-great-grandfather.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty cute book.......2004-11-24

This is not your typical Seuss book - it has 3 stories, all of which teach a little lesson. Once again, Seuss' language can be a little obnoxious so I must warn you there that you'll need to change a few words like "stupid" as you go. That word just doesn't sound too great coming from a two-year-old. Anyway, it shows how you should be careful of what you say before you say it in I can lick 30 tigers (meaning, beat them up and not actually "taste them" as you may think), how you should take care of yourself and not let others tell you what to do in King Louie, and to watch what you think about and how you spend your spare time in Thunk Glunk. Valuable lessons and entertaining as well. Not too big of a favorite in this house, but worth reading once in awhile.

Dr. Seuss makes a series of lessons in a trio of stories.......2004-05-31

"I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! and Other Stories" presents a trio of stories told in verse and illustrated by Dr. Seuss in 1969. Each story makes a simple point. The title story is about a young fellow who looks like a smaller version of the Cat in the Hat (there is reason to believe he is part of the next generation) who declares that he can lick thirty tigers today. However, as soon as he see the thirty tigers he starts finding reasons to whittle down that number, which should indicate to young readers the problems of biting off more than you can chew (pick whatever phrase that expresses this idea you like even if it is your eyes are bigger than your stomach).

"King Looie Katz" is about the fancy cat named Looie who was the King of Katzen-stein and who was so proud of his royal tail that not only did he wash it every morning in a ten-gallon golden pail. In fact, King Looie is so proud that he decides that his tail should never be allowed to touch the earth and he made Fooie Katz follow him around and keep from dragging on the ground. When Fooie notices his tail is sagging he makes Kooie Katz lift up his tail. Soon all the cats in Katzen-stein are walking round and round keeping each other's tails from dragging on the ground. All the cats, that is, except one in this simple story about being more "demo-catic."

Finally there is "The Glunk that Got Thunk," which has the distinction of being the wordiest Dr. Seuss story I have ever read. The sister of the small cat we met in the first story likes to go upstairs after supper and use her Thinker-Upper. Usually she thinks up friendly little things with smiles and fuzzy fur. But one night she decides to go for go for something more fun and discovers she has thunked a Glunk. There are two problems with this. First, a Glunk cannot be UN-thunk. Second, this Glunk calls his mother each night, which is an expensive long distance phone call (ten dollars a minute), and this particular Glunk will never stop talking (which explains why this story gets so wordy; beginning readers will be amazed). There are actually several lessons that can be drawn from this one.

None of these are what I would call first level Dr. Seuss books but there are three of them, which just about adds up to a solid collection. You readers might find it strange to find three short stories collected in one, but there are other such collections out there. These stories are a bit more inclined towards making points beyond the good doctor's normal delightful infatuation with the realm of imagination.

If you love Dr. Seuss, you need this book.......2003-08-05

This is one of the great Dr. Seuss books that a lot of people don't seem to know about. Really, really fun and a little bit different from the others. My nephew cracks up every single time I read it to him.

If you love Dr. Seuss, you need this book.......2003-08-05

Lessons taught in the most wonderful way possible.......2003-01-10

These three stories are a wonderful trip for children into an imaginative world, where they learn important lessons, in the most fun way possible.
In the first, `I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today' the character learns that his bravado does not live up to the reality, in `The Glunk that Got Thunk' children learn how insurmountable problems can be solved by working together and keeping a level head, and in `King Loii Katz' children learn a very important lesson:
That sometimes one has to follow ones own conscience and put a stop to the bandwagon. It only takes one to say `ENOUGH'.
Beautifully illustrated, and with a wonderful sense of humour and imagination.

Rabbit Ears Treasury of Fables and Other Stories: The Three Little Pigs/The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Rumpelstiltskin, The Tiger and the Brahmin, The Ugly Duckling (Rabbit Ears)

Average customer rating:

too much music
Great for a long family trip

Rabbit Ears Treasury of Fables and Other Stories: The Three Little Pigs/The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Rumpelstiltskin, The Tiger and the Brahmin, The Ugly Duckling (Rabbit Ears)
Rabbit Ears
Manufacturer: Listening Library (Audio)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0739336525
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

The Rabbit Ears Treasury of Fables and Other Stories entertains and enlightens with these classic animal stories--read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today's greatest artists.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff / The Three Little Pigs
Read by Holly Hunter
Original Music by Art Lande
Three billy goats encounter a greedy troll--and turn the tables on him--when they try to cross a bridge in the popular Norwegian classic The Three Billy Goats Gruff.
The big bad wolf huffs and puffs his way through the tale of the brave pig who outsmarts his fellow oinkers by simply working harder in the all-time favorite The Three Little Pigs.

Rumpelstiltskin
Read by Kathleen Turner
Original Music by Tangerine Dream
When the king orders a young woman to spin a room full of straw into gold, she turns to a mysterious elfin man for help . . . but will the price of his aid be her first-born child?

The Tiger and the Brahmin
Read by Ben Kingsley
Original Music by Ravi Shankar
"I shan't eat you if you let me out of the cage," the tiger tells the Brahmin before the holy man discovers that the tiger intended to eat him all along. Only the intervention of a clever jackal can save the Brahmin from his fate.

The Ugly Duckling
Read by Cher
Original Music by Patrick Ball
Rediscover the inner beauty in all of us with this beloved Hans Christian Andersen story of the outcast duckling who finds himself transformed into a beautiful swan.

Customer Reviews:

too much music.......2007-06-19

I was disappointed for two reasons: first too much background music made it difficult to hear the reader; secondly, the writers changed the story. Why try to "improve" upon a classic like the Three Little Pigs??

Great for a long family trip.......2007-03-30

Our family (5-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son) has enjoyed several of these Rabbit Ears collections while on the road. The stories are long enough, but not so long that attention wanders, and the music is lovely, too.

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