The Story Of Little Black Sambo

The Story of Little Black Sambo is a children’s book written and illustrated by Scottish-born author Helen Bannerman for her children while her family was living in India. The story of a young Indian boy who outsmarts four tigers that threaten to eat him has been noted a controversial with its publication in the United States, accused of presenting racist overtones, primarily because of its illustrations. However, many “American editions” were pirated versions, lacking Bannerman’s name on the title page, that were reillustrated, producing degrading caricatures. 

On October 31, 1899, The Story of Little Black Sambo was first published by Grant Richards as one in a series of small-format books called The Dumpy Books for Children. The book was an instant success, running to four editions in its first year.

Frederick A. Stokes of New York published the first US edition of Bannerman’s The Story of Little Black Sambo in 1900. After the story was reproduced in many pirated versions, Stokes moved to affix the line “The Only Authorized American Edition” to its 1923 edition to maintain some kind of distinction in the marketplace.