Story Books From the 1970s: Tikki Tikki Tembo
Do you ever find yourself reverting to your childhood as the holiday’s approach? Instead of channeling all that energy into tired family squabbles, such as who poisoned the dog back in ’83, why not put a happy spin on your mental time travel with a bit of classic 1970s children’s literature.
Tikki Tikki Tembo, no sarembo mari bari puchi pip peri pembo ….. or something like that. This is a great Chinese fable about a boy with a very long name who falls into a well. A bit grim by today’s standards, but the kids with love the rhythm and repetition of the prose.
What’s your favorite 1970s childhood classic?
by Lela Davidson on November 6, 2008
in Uncategorized
I loved my Little Golden Books. They must have been cheap, because that’s what I read. My favorite was The Wonderful School … “There once was a very unusual school that had for its teacher Miss Tillie O’Toole. Miss Tillie quite often her pupils would praise, even those who were clever in curious ways …” Bad poetry or not, I thought that book must have been written about my little nursery school and my teacher, Mrs. Montgomery. I sometimes looked for myself and my classmates in the illustrations.
Not sure if it was written in the 70′s, but that is when I first read it: “Chicken Soup with Rice”.
“In May I think it truly best
to be a robin brightly dressed
concocting soup inside my nest.
Mix it once
Mix it twice
Mix that chicken soup with rice.”
Or something like that.
Oh YES! Chicken Soup with Rice is next on my list. And did you have the cassette tape to go with? By Carole King? My first grade teacher, Mrs. Taylor played that over and over for us! LOVE it. I’ll try and run down some audio for that post.
I have so many faves from early childhood–
“If I Ran the Zoo” by Dr. Suess-I had the cassette tape to go with it
“There are Rocks in my Socks Said the Ox to the Fox” (I think this was actually early 80′s)
“Henry Eats Out” (clutzy but lovable elephant)
“Twenty Four Robbers” (…came knocking at my door)
and “It Didn’t Frighten Me”
…just to name a few!
Hmmmm – 1970? I don’t think I have one of these – I wasn’t born until 1981.
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
Does anyone kno all the words in the wonderful school. It was my favourite book as well and i cant remember all of it. “There once was a very unusual school, that had for its teacher miss tillie o tool. she taught all her lessons in riddles and rhymes and those who learned quickest were given a dime” is all I can remember. Please help.
Anon – I don't know that one, but they sell it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/wonderful-school-little-golden-book/dp/B00072PJ2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232371596&sr=8-1
Good luck!