When asked my favorite childhood folktale, my immediate thought was "Tikki Tikki Tembo" written by Arlene Mosel. I think the reason it sticks out in my mind is because as a child I thought the boy's name "Tikki Tikki Tembo-no Sa Rembo-chari Bari Ruchi-pip Peri Pembo" was very catchy. I remember the whole class reciting it along with our teacher each time it's said in the story. I also remember feeling sorry for the brother; why should he have been treated any differently than the oldest? As the youngest in my own family, I then felt triumph for the little brother at the end when it worked out well to have the shorter name.
This book's illustrations stood out to me as a child as well. It was such a change from the pictures in most of the books that we read. Rather than splashes of many colors like we're so used to, Blair Lent uses mostly blues, greens, and yellows. The pictures looked much more old fashioned to me as a child, making this book different from so many others.
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