Is this a story Miles should hear in his early childhood?

Comments

[drewf]

i think this is the best explanation of why this story is bs:

"Tikki, Tikki, Tembo purports to explain Asian names but in reality reinforces the stereotype that Asian names sound like nonsense syllables. While Asian names may be distinctly different from European names, that is no reason to dismiss them as some type of gobbledygook."

The statement is from Sandra Yamate, founder of Polychrome Publishing, in "Asian Pacific American Children's Literature: Expanding Perceptions About Who Americans Are" in _Using Multiethnic Literature in the K-8 Classroom_ edited by Violet J. Harris.

[Jenny]

Tikki Tikki Tembo is not without its polarizing effects, especially in a group of children. As the sole biological asian in an all-white school, I was asked by multiple classmates to translate the name. I may have taken action in response to this request that warranted several time-outs.

That's an interesting opinion from Ms. Yamate, since the story also contains an obvious counterexample, to less perilous personal effect. I would comment that the lengthy nomenclature of the unseen latina love interest of the chihuahua in Lady and the Tramp is equally offensive, and both are less so than coolie hats worn in unjustified settings.

I think that a story where a kid falls down a well is right up there with stories about kids getting eaten by wolves. If you think about it too hard, it sounds like a bad idea, but people have been telling kids this crap for ages, and we all turned out just fine. I think he appreciate "Miles Fu" and not some crazy long asian thing, nor William Jefferson Clinton.