HELEN BANNERMAN

The illustrations and stories of Helen Bannerman, a Scottish author of children's books, are influenced by India where she spent most of her life (her husband was an officer in the Indian medical service).  Best known for The Story of Little Black Sambo (1899), her books celebrate the ingenuity and intelligence of children.  A century later, these books are now incredibly controversial as the title is considered a racial slur, and some of the illustrations carry offensive overtones. The books featured here were discarded from the Toronto Public Library system in the 1980s.  These publications are artifacts of a different time.  Despite the controversial aspect of Bannerman's books, the main character and his adventures possess an enduring appeal.  The stories continue to be published, adapted to remove offence, re-illustrated and re-named The Story of Little Babji.  He lives on to inspire bravery in children against hungry tigers, wild monkeys, polar bears... or more immediate threats.