The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling

...me I would have associated The Jungle Book, with the Disney film of the same name. It was not until I actually read the book, that I realised just how different it was to the film. In fact, The Jungle Book is not just one story, but a collection of short stories and poems, all of which focus on the animal world.

---The Book---

My copy of The Jungle Book, is a hardback edition published by The Children's Golden Library ...
...a shorter read, especially with the fact that each story can be read in less than half an hour.

---The stories---

The story that everyone remembers is the one that the Disney film focussed on, which is that of Mowgli, the man cub and his battle against Shere-Khan the lame and vicious man-eating tiger. And indeed this is the story the book starts with, but if you are thinking it's going to be like the film, think again. ... more

As a child, if anyone had asked me I would have associated The Jungle Book, with the Disney film of the same name. It was not until I actually read the book, that I realised just how different it was to the film. In fact, The Jungle Book is not just one story, but a collection of short stories and poems, all of which focus on the animal world.

---The Book---

My copy of The Jungle Book, is a hardback edition published by The Children's Golden Library and features a picture of Mowgli in the jungle. This is not a long book, and is in fact only 159 pages long, and therefore ideal for a shorter read, especially with the fact that each story can be read in less than half an hour.

---The stories---

The story that everyone remembers is the one that the Disney film focussed on, which is that of Mowgli, the man cub and his battle against Shere-Khan the lame and vicious man-eating tiger. And indeed this is the story the book starts with, but if you are thinking it's going to be like the film, think again. The actual story is much darker, and tells the story of Mowgli from an inquisitive toddler, rescued from Shere-Khan by the wolves and adopted by Raksha, the mother wolf to his coming of age during a final fight with the tiger.

As his story progresses, we meet many characters that are familiar from watching the film, but they are slightly different in the book, for example Kaa is not an evil snake, but actually helps rescue Mowgli. Baloo is Mowgli's teacher, but not the lazy irresponsible bear from the film, but rather he teaches all wolf cubs the rules of hunting within the jungle, and is pleased that he can teach more to Mowgli than he has been able to with the other wolf cubs.

The second story is that of the White Seal, Kotick and his search for a breeding ground where the seals can breed in peace without the threat of the seal hunters who are after their fur. This was a charming story, and I really enjoyed reading it, even though their was some horrifying imagery.

Next we are told the story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the brave little mongoose and his life and death battle with Nag and Nagina the cobras. Then we have the story of Kala Nag, the elephant and his master's brave son, Little Toomi as they attend the elephant dance. The final story is that of the various animals employed by the British Army.

---The Poems---

There are many poems and songs interspersed between the stories, which can be read on their own, but actually enhance the actual stories. I found that the although the poems were best read aloud, there were some words that I found difficult to pronounce (again I just did my best).

---The Author and the writing Style---

Rudyard Kipling, was born in India in 1865, and although he was sent to England from the age of five, he returned to India in 1882, where he became a journalist and newspaper editor. While in India he wrote many stories set in his homeland including : The Just-So Stories, Kim and of course The Jungle Book.

The writing style in the book, is fairly simple, but the language is very old-fashioned. It would have been old-fashioned even when the book was written, with a lot of "thee's" and "thou's", but due to this it hasn't really aged. Some of the names are quite hard to pronounce (although a lot will be familiar from the film of the same name), and I basically just do my own approximation of how I think they should be said.

I love the way the Rudyard used the animal kingdom to show the different sorts of behaviour that he had observed in man and to promote the behaviours he found admirable. And the observations were very keen, there was the loyalty to the family and respect towards all the different species that was taught to Mowgli, and the contrasting irresponsible behaviour of the Bandar-log (monkeys). Then there's Kotick's unwillingness to accept his situation and his perseverance in trying to better not only his own life, but that of all the seals, or Rikki's bravery in facing the cobras.

Although the talented child might be able to read this, and if they can will be enthralled by the imagery, I really believe this is more suitable for adults and older teenagers who will be better able to appreciate the moral messages hidden within the stories.

---The Scouting Connection---

Lord Baden Powell based Cub Scouts on The Jungle Book (Cub Scouts are aged between 8 and 10), and gave the leaders names from the stories. The pack leader is known as Akela (for obvious reasons) and the assistant leaders take other names from the book. I, myself, took the name Kaa.

The ideal of cubs is too be as alike to brave, respectful and responsible Mowgli as possible, and never be like the irresponsible Bandar-log.

---My opinion---

This is truly a classic book, filled to the brim with tales of animal life. I first read this when I became an Assistant Cub Scout leader, as I believed it would help me to understand a little more of the theology behind Baden-Powell's vision for the cubs. But it soon became a well-loved book, and although some of the language is "difficult", I find reading it an ultimately rewarding experience. There's not the same level of humour to the stories as there is in the "Just-so stories", but there is just as much of a moral message.

I personally love to read these stories aloud to my children, and find the language is perfect for this (especially the poems and songs), and it always brings a smile to my children's faces when Mummy can't manage to pronounce a word properly.

I am therefore recommending this book for confident readers, that will not be bothered that there are difficult words that they may not be able to pronounce, of say age 10 and above.

---Technical bits---

This book is available from Amazon in the paperback format for 1.50 (plus delivery), but you may be able to find it for even less if you hunt around, and it's definitely worth the money. I'm not sure how much my hardback copy cost as it was a gift, but I imagine it was less than 5 pound.

* As the book tells us Mowgli means frog and he was so-named by Raksha due to the fact he looked like one.
 

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