Description
This adaptation retains much of Bannerman’s original narrative, but it replaces Little Black Sambo with an explicitly Indian boy named Arum. Illustrator Phyllis Pollema-Cahill uses realistic drawings that nevertheless evoke Orientalized stereotypes to depict many of the characters. She draws all of the adult men with white turbans, while Arum’s mother wears gold bangles and a sari.
Additionally, this version aims to teach children to read by replacing key words from the text with corresponding illustrations. For instance, every occurrence of the word “tiger” is replaced by a small picture of the animal.
Creator
Helen Bannerman
Contributor(s)
Illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill
Publisher
Domino Readers
Publication Date
1998
Format
24 pages; colored illustrations; 6.2 x 0.2 x 8.8 inches
Language
English