The Jungle Book (Dover Children's Evergreen Classics)

"The Jungle Book" is a collection of stories (or fables) and songs/poems by Rudyard Kipling, and was originally published in 1894. The book consists of 7 short stories, separated by seven poems. The first three stories involve Mowgli, but the other four stories are not part of that series, nor do they all take place in the same jungle or any jungle at all. What these stories do have in common is the anthropomorphizing of animals as characters in these stories. As with all fables, these stories impart a moral message to the reader."Mowgli's Brothers" is the first story in the book and was originally published in January of 1894 in "St. Nicholas Magazine". The story is about Mowgli being adopted by the wolf family which then raises him. With Shere Khan hunting in their area of the jungle, the Father Wolf (Akela) and the mother (Raksha) find and take in a human baby. At the wolf council, Baloo speaks for the cub, and Bagheera buys his life with a fresh kill. As time passes, Shere Khan turns most of the wolves against Mowgli, and they plot to overthrow Akela as the leader. Mowgli is then sent away from the wolves, vowing to return with Shere Khan's hide. This story is followed by the "Hunting-Song of the Seeonee Pack". "Kaa's Hunting" is a short study from March-April of 1894. It takes place sometime during the period covered in "Mowgli's Brothers", though it isn't mentioned in that story. It is a story about Mowgli's abduction by monkees, a.k.a the Bandar-log. Baloo and Bagheera, rescue Mowgli with the aid of Kaa. This story is followed by the "Road Song of the Bandar-Log"."Tiger! Tiger!" was a short story published in February of 1894 in magazines before being published in this collection. This covers the confrontation between Mowgli and Shere Khan. Mowgli has been kicked out of the jungle and has been adopted by a couple who believe he is Nathoo, the child that they lost. Mowgli tries to fit in, but he alienates himself from the others because he doesn't accept their misconceptions about the jungle. Shere Khan returns and is plotting to kill Mowgli, but he is warned by one of his wolf friends (Grey Brother) whom he goes to visit regularly. Mowgli comes up with a plan to kill Shere Khan, but when successful he gets into an argument with Buldeo, the hunger. Buldeo tries to take Shere Khan's skin, but Mowgli refuses to give it to him, so Buldeo turns the entire village against him and Mowgli finds himself an outcast of both the jungle and the village. This story is followed by "Mowgli's Song"."The White Seal" is a short story published in August of 1893. The story is about Kotick, a rare white-furred seal who spends his life searching for a home where seals will not be hunted by humans. He is isolated from the other seals by his goal, but he finally discovers a place that the Sea Cows know which is free from man. This story is followed by "Lukannon"."Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" is a story from November of 1893. In this story an English family save a young mongoose (Rikki Tikki) who becomes their pet. Rikki Tikki first saves the families young boy Teddy from a dust brown snakeling. Rikki Tikki takes to patrolling the house while the family sleeps, and it is during this that he is warned by Chuchundra that there are two cobras (Nag and Nagaina) that are planning to kill the family. Rikki Tikki first takes on Nag, waking the father who kills Nag. Nagaina then swears vengeance, but Rikki Tikki gets help from Darzee (a tailor bird) and locates Nagainaj's nest and then uses the eggs to distract Nagaina to save Teddy again. This story is followed by "Darzee's Chant"."Toomai of the Elephants" is a short story from the December of 1893. In this story little Toomai is told that he cannot be an elephant handler unless he sees the dance of the elephants. When the great elephant Kala Nag hears the call of the elephant from far off in the jungle, he goes to find the elephants, taking little Toomai with him. This story is followed y "Shiv and the Grasshopper"."Her Majesty's Servants" was originally published in March of 1894. This story is about the various animals used to support Her Majesty's armed forces in India. The animals discuss their roles in the army, each taking pride in the function they perform. This is followed by "Parade-Song of the Camp Animals" which closes out the book.This is a good collection of short stories, though there is a definite variability in the quality, and of course they don't all take place in the jungle. Rudyard Kipling wrote poems, short stories, and novels. Having lived in India, England, and the United States, and also spent a fair amount of time in South Africa. He drew on the rich cultural history that he enjoyed to create some wonderful tales. He remains one of the best known writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. "The Jungle Book" is one of his best known works, though most know it through films which do not accurately represent the stories within. It blends his short fiction with some of his poems, but I find it a bit too uneven to give it five-stars.

There is something magical whenever I read children books, this is one of the best ones. I enjoyed from the beginning till the very last page.

Nice to keep

I always thought Migwli's story was the only one in the Jungle Book. Imagine my confusion when we're suddenly in Alaska. O.o and there's a first person briefly at play, v before we go back into 3rd. I now know where Rikiitikkitavi comes from, so there's that. And I see some elements of the elephants story plays in the Disney movie... still, very dizzying. When I started this journey with classic novels, I am always confounded at how different my preconceived notions are in comparison to their reality. Fascinating stories, moments of racism that's noted for the time.... decent read. I would, as a parent, read these yourself before deciding if you're child should. This is NOT the Disney movie. There's graphic violence, not suitable for all ages. Overall decent book.

I don't know if the India that Kipling transmits is the India of his time. But it's a meaningless question. Art, with time, remains more real than the debris left by history: we love and know more about Don Quixote than Charles V. And so the India of Kipling is totally real to me, as are my Indian friends. Except that in Kipling with a touch of the British spirit of its time to, not only control the world, but to make it theirs. If you read the fiction of most of writers from the former countries of the Spanish Empire you will notice that, despite centuries of ancestors living there, they write about nature and natives as if they were something terrible and alien; Kipling instead embrace, and makes us embrace, the whole of India with deep love.Although Disney movies could make you think otherwise, this is a unique book of tales and songs with different protagonists, mostly animals, and certainly not only Mowgli. An exotic book as Bollywood movies are today, with their stories and their dances in between. I loved so much the descriptions of Bagheera, a sensuous shadow of velvet. The jungle so dense and so old. The ocean and the wars to survive in "The white seal." Conflicts fueled by familiar bonds in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," a tale in which I don't think there is really an enemy. The almost supernatural call in "Toomai of the Elephants." The last one, "Her Majesty's servants", I consider it more comical and maybe satirical. It was nice, but I didn't liked so much as the rest.This AmazonClassics Edition has X-Ray, although when I consult the entry for Rann the kite, it gives me instead the description of a place instead of the character. Also, with many exotic terms, some of them are not explained in the X-Ray section. Maybe they are evident for most of the readers but I would liked to have a bit more data. In the end there is a short biography and that's all. There is no intermediary to spoil the fun, with introductions or studies, to read this great book that you can enjoy and learn at any age.

I ordered The Jungle Book for my grandson's future reading, but he will probably need to be in high school. This is not a cutsy, Disney view of India or the jungle. This particular edition of Kipling's stories would satisfy adults, however, with its rich descriptions of culture and wisdom. It's other-worldly enough to take modern children out of their usual environments, yet it is taken from the reality of a different time and place. Such is the joy and wonder of folk tales. They connect us all on a universal level. While Mogli was raised by wolves, he still must pass important tests to become an adult, to return to the human village to become a man in that culture, to avenge the death of his wolf father, and find his place in both worlds.

These tales teach my kids about the difference between good and evil.My kids really love these tales because these ones show some miracle in the stories and the ending is always good.I recommend this book for boys and girls aged 5-14.

I wish the Usborne illustrated unabridged collection was more extensive.They are a wonderful way to introduce classics to young readers

I love it, it has one long story and one short story. I love how it’s just about animals! Good!

One of my favourite books. I have read from it several times in the last 7 decades and i still lve it. Kipling is a master story bteller.

Gorgeous book, lovely copy for a gift.

Very interesting Mowgli stories but not quite like as portrayed in the Disney Film versions plus a lot of other great stories.