This week, KC and Eric review the 1968 picture book Tikki Tikki Tembo (retold by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent), a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winner they call their most controversial pick yet. With help from Little Eric’s recap, they outline the plot: two brothers in a village, one with a long honored name and one called Chang; both fall into a well, and the long name delays rescue and recovery, leading to a “lesson” against long names. They discuss repetition, name-as-identity, social hierarchy, and criticize cultural appropriation and inaccuracies, noting the story likely isn’t even a Chinese folktale.

Timestamps:

00:37 Welcome to the Board Book Breakdown

01:12 What the Kids Say

02:56 Coffee

04:33 Plot Breakdown

08:21 Why the Controversy

11:43 Author and Influences

16:19 WTF Moments

22:13 Alternate Endings

About the Show:

Board Book Breakdown is the hilarious, slightly NSFW podcast where two overstimulated parents dissect the children’s books our toddlers demand and ask the question that matters: why is this a thing? We read over a thousand kids’ books a year. Some are sweet, some are cardboard fever dreams from the nightmare collection… and of course, those are the kids’ favorites.

Every week, we go down a quick author rabbit hole, share our what the— moments, ask what would a toddler say? If bedtime stories are breaking your brain, come laugh with us. New episodes every week—subscribe and follow.

Feedback:

What book should we review next? What coffee should we try? Please follow or subscribe and connect at: BoardBookBreakdown@gmail.com and @Boardbookbreakdown on Instagram.