Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel (ISBN-10: 0805006621) was first published in 1968. This well-loved children's book has a dramatic plot that lends itself well to reading aloud in a storytime setting. The story is about two brothers. Chang the younger brother, and Tikki Tikki Tembo, who is the honored first son. The older brother's name is so long that you will find yourself reciting it in a sing-song manner:

Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo may be the central character of the story, with his show-stealing name and mother who dotes exclusively on him, but Chang is the true hero. Tikki Tikki Tembo has a tendency to get into trouble and almost drowns when he falls into the well. Chang tries to get help for him in vain, but his efforts are thwarted both by pronouncing Tikki Tikki Tembo's name, which his mother insists he pronounce in its entirety, and his mother's habitual inattention. Finally, after an unsuccessful attempt at communicating Tikki Tikki Tembo's predicament, Chang quietly saves the day by fetching the Old Man with the Ladder. This story will find many admirers in misunderstood and seemingly forgotten middle children.

Blair Lent's illustrations, in dark blue and brown watercolor provide a fitting background to the both dour tone of this story. His illustrations of pagodas, kites, and birds and the quaint village evoke Asia.

In Tikki Tikki Tembo, Arlene Mosel builds her plot with several folktale elements, including events that happen in threes, and plucky younger siblings who save the day. The story is beautifully paced and with its dramatic and dangerous plot, children will be at the edge of their seats until the very end, when Tikki Tikki Tembo is safely carried to his bed by the Old Man with the Ladder.

This book has loyal and ardent fans. It is featured in many professional texts and used as an aid to teach reading. Tikki Tikki Tembo's frequent repetition of story elements lend it to easy memorization, making the story an appealing choice for teaching children to read.

Most Elementary Education majors are now required to take classes about cultural diversity as part of their preparation for teaching school in the United States. Usually as part of the class, student teachers read a large selection of children's stories that represent diverse cultures and cultural themes. Tikki Tikki Tembo loosely falls into the cultural diversity category, because it claims to be the author's version of a Chinese folktale.

Critics of the book claim that it is merely pseudo-oriental, and that it perpetuates banal stereotypes about Chinese culture rather than representing Chinese culture with any level of accuracy. These criticisms are leveled by individuals with a Chinese heritage, so their views should be taken seriously.

Presenters of this book in a public setting should avoid representing the book's content as being an accurate representation of Chinese culture, and if in a public or teaching position, be mindful that it is perceived by some people to be offensive.

Tikki Tikki Tembo is an entertaining read and I am reluctant to discourage the reading of a classic children's story that has stood the test of time. It has been in print for over 40 years. However, as I am in the middle of wiriting this book review, I have to agree that the book supports some patently erroneous information about Chinese culture. One premise of the story is to explain why Chinese people have such short names. The story isn't factual. The story gets away with explaining why Chinese people have such short names because it is written in a folk tale format. The absurd explanation is similar to other folktales I can think of, including Why the Sea Is Salty, which is also an absurd explanation for a scientific question.

Folk tales originally were a means for the uneducated masses to share information and folk wisdom, that, excuse my pun, people tended to take with a grain of salt. These fun and fanciful explanation stories were not meant to represent deep truths.

The troubling thing about Mosely's story is that it was written in an era when Asians were almost universally distrusted. The communist Chinese were considered an enemy of the United States, and the U.S. was in the middle of the Vietnam War, following the Korean conflict. Forty years ago when the book was written, it was completely socially acceptable to make fun of Asians in movies and on TV. Personally, although I can't speak for the author myself, I frankly don't believe she had any perfidious intent when she wrote the story. I believe the book was written at a time when Chinese culture seemed distantly foreign and inaccessible. Mosely's book is a flight of fancy.

I think that instead of banning this book, teachers could use it as a touchstone to have critical discussions about the core values behind cultural diversity. Children in early elementary grades have a black and white point of view, but their ability to think critically about these topics becomes more sophisticated as they grow older.

• Does Tikki Tikki Tembo promote positive or negative views of Chinese culture?

Supplement your reading of Tikki Tikki Tembo with the following books about children's names. Names are deeply and personally tied to childrens' identities. Here are some books, some from the multicultural category, and one that is not, that I think will help.  

Three Names of Me by Mary Cummings and illustrated by Lin Wang. This is the touching story of a girl's adoption from China and talks about her American and Chinese names. Due to content, it is recommended for second grade and up.

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi. This children's picture book is a fictional story that describes a young Korean immigrant's experience when kids tease her about her different-sounding name.

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvitz and Gabi Swiatkowska. This book is also about a young Korean girl who struggles to feel accepted in her new environment with an unusual-sounding name. This book is geared toward the Kindergarten through second grade age group and won the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award in 2004. 

Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes. The little mouse in this story is teased about her very long name when she goes to school. Chrysanthemum goes through a considerable amount of angst, despite the reassurances of her parents (who have very well-endowed vocabularies). But a new choir teacher, whom all the kids thinks is fabulous, helps Chrysanthemum find acceptance at last.