Source
University of Florida’s Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature
Baldwin Call #23h20433
Description
This adaptation retains Helen Bannerman’s original text and names, but illustrator Gustaf Tenggren depicts the characters using stereotypical Oriental imagery. Black Mumbo wears a bright red headscarf and prominent gold earrings, while Black Jumbo has a white headscarf. Even more troublingly, Little Black Sambo appears naked in many of the illustrations, a detail that seems to emphasize his primitiveness or lack of civilization. Additionally, Phyllis Yuill highlights Tenggren’s depiction of the final pancake scene, noting that the author’s illustration “appears to be derogatory” (24). Together, these illustrations reduce the characters to Orientalized stereotypes.
Creator
Helen Bannerman
Contributor(s)
Illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Publication Date
1948
Format
42 pages; mixture of colored and black and white illustrations; 20 cm.
Language
English