Tikki Tikki Tembo

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, to learn about the danger of having such an honorable name as Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.

The late Arlene Mosel first heard the story of Tikki tikki tembo as a child. When she grew up, she shared this wonderful tale with countless children, including her own. Because so many young listeners responded enthusiastically, she decided to put down her own retelling, which became her first book for children.

Blair Lent began illustrating picture books in the 1960s. He received the Caldecott Medal in 1973 for The Funny Little Woman, by Arlene Mosel, and has also been awarded three Caldecott Honors. He lives and works in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo is the full name of the firstborn son in the Chinese family of this story. As the firstborn's, his name must be spoken completely and reverently. This old folktale of what happens when the boy falls into a well and his younger brother attempts to get help is nicely retold and should make excellent read-aloud material....Bright, active, and delightfully expressive."--School Library Journal

"On spacious, uncluttered pages the artist has extended the story with wonderfully droll ink-and-wash drawings that combine imaginative beauty with a true Chinese spirit."--The Horn Book