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The Jungle Books I Audiobook
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(3.00) - 27,471 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The Jungle Books, published in 1894 and 1895, and set in the far-away climes of India and the Aleutians, was actually written during the four years Kipling lived in the United States. Book I of The Jungle Books introduces us to all of the wonderful Kipling jungle characters: Bagheera, the black panther; Shere Khan, the lame but evil tiger who lives near the Waingunga River; Mowgli, the man-cub; Toomai of the Elephants; Kaa the Rock Python snake; Baloo, the sleepy brown bear whose job it is to teach the wolf cubs the Law of the Jungle; and many more. Part One includes the following stories: Mowgli's Brother; Kaa's Hunting; 'Tiger-Tiger!'; The White Seal; 'Rikki-Tikki-Tavi'; Toomai of the Elephants; and Servants of the Queen
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"I grew up with the idea that I was a 1950's, female Texas equivalent of Mowgli. I hung upside down from the swing, swung on ropes, and talked to Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (stuffed, who slept beside me each night). Fast forward fifty-five years or so, and I think the moral tone set by the characters and the events is one that would be rewarding for every parent to embrace with children. So not only is the story/character/event/and moral worth reading, but also the lessons learned are totally valuable. If you buy children's books...buy this one. And don't get frightened by Shere Khan...Bengal Tigers are now endangered!"
— Susan (4 out of 5 stars)
The Jungle Books I Listener Reviews
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" I've never read The Jungle Book before (although I used to love the Disney film) so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I knew about Kipling's views on empire and so forth, but this was quite a charming book of fables, using the stories to provide morals. Less than half of it is taken up by Mowgli's adventures with the rest being unrelated short stories, including the mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi's fight against the snakes and the white seal Kotick's search for a safe haven for seals, where humans won't hunt them. "
— Raj, 2/10/2014 -
" So far, I don't get the Kipling quotes. More yet to be read. "
— CJ, 1/6/2014 -
" Can't the animals all just get along? "
— Jess, 12/30/2013 -
" I liked the snake Kha he was really cool. Sherkahn was scary and wanted the little boy moglie but he didn't get him. I enjoyed the shorter stories at the end about each animal like the mongoose and such too. "
— Trisha, 12/25/2013 -
" "The Jungle Book" is a collection of stories, some of which do not take place in the jungle. Most of the stories captivated my imagination until the author interrupted the flow by injecting contradictions in the characters and the stories that involved violence. Bagheera chastises Baloo for beating Mowgli, only to do so himself when he felt embarrassed. Somehow Mowgli (like many abused persons) believes he deserves the unjust punishment and submits "to as severe a beating as you could wish to avoid". A similar contradiction in character occurs in "The White Seal." The white seal says he does not wish to fight the other seals, but decides he must have the most violent and bloody outbreak in history to force the other seals into submission to him. After reading all the stories, I was left with the impression that Rudyard Kipling struggled with the childhood abuse he suffered and his stories were therefore tainted by his confused beliefs about punishment. If you're a good storyteller, you can skip over or gloss over the most disturbing parts when reading to children. "
— Denise, 12/8/2013 -
" I've always meant to read this - didn't finish it in time for book club but still enjoyed it. I have to say though, I like Mowgli in the movie better than the book! :) "
— Meg, 12/5/2013 -
" Nothing special, but a fun read. A collection of short stories about various animals rather than a longer book just about Mogwli. "
— Tessa, 11/13/2013 -
" Really terrific! I didn't know a lot about the jungle book before I read it, though I was very familiar with Rikki Tikki Tavi and Mowgli the best. I should read this out loud to my kids. "
— Jennifer, 10/30/2013 -
" Rudyard Kipling is timeless. That's about all I can manage to say about him. The Jungle Book helped protect my children from the challenges of living in a suburbs. For that I am eternally grateful. "
— Lora, 10/7/2013 -
" I liked it because he lived in the jungle with his friends Bagheera and Baloo and Baloo taught him his lessons to hunt and the rules of the jungle. "
— Morgan, 10/4/2013 -
" It was good in parts, but overall pretty weak. The short stories that spawned cartoons were swell, the ones that didn't weren't worth it. Mostly meh. "
— Miik, 8/14/2013 -
" The Jungle book part of the story is good. All of the others are too upsetting. Clubbing baby seals??? Really??? "
— McKirk, 2/21/2013 -
" Read aloud with the 5 year old. She loved the stories about Mowgli and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but the other stories did not hold her interest as much. "
— Nicole, 2/17/2013 -
" this contained more than just the jungle book story with mowgli. i loved the stories so much more and the movie could every entertain me. i would definately recommend this to everyone. i think these would be great stories to read with the kids. "
— Christy, 10/2/2012 -
" Leave the ordinary behind and learn the laws of the jungle. Full of adventure, imagination, impertinence, and wit... can't wait to read this one with children. "
— fremellow, 9/27/2012 -
" I do not remember reading this book, but I knew every story in it. I know I had read one recently in a short story collection. "
— Matt, 6/5/2012 -
" I like this book because it is good and great "
— John, 3/23/2012 -
" Awesome, well-thought and a great and creative description of animals. "
— Carlo, 2/21/2012 -
" Much darker than I expected, but a good read none the less "
— Kat, 12/23/2011 -
" I kind of didn't like this book - for once, the movie was better! "
— Emma, 6/4/2011 -
" This book remind me my chilhood "
— Serge, 5/18/2011 -
" I know these stories by heart, almost! "
— Natalie, 4/20/2011 -
" Re-reading again after over 50 years. Very enjoyable and realaxing read. I enjoyed some of the stories other than the ones about Mowgli and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but I still skipped the story about the seal. Maybe I'll finish it in another 50 years. "
— Ed, 4/19/2011 -
" Not quite what I expected, but good nontheless. All I had to go on was the Disney cartoon. Lots of short stories, with some about other "people" than Mowgli. "
— Kristine, 4/3/2011 -
" Finally! I'm done!! Hated that book :P "
— Maddy, 3/29/2011 -
" If you want to make your pal Mike cry- read him the passage where Mowgli decides to leave the jungle and rejoin the ManPack. "
— Mike, 3/18/2011 -
" Read this because it's one of the classics. "
— Siobhan, 3/12/2011 -
" Such a fun book. I've decided to put Kipling near the top of my "must read" books. "
— Susan, 3/10/2011 -
" Enjoyed the various stories - very different from the Disney movie I was always used to. "
— David, 3/7/2011
About Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was born of English parents in Bombay, India. At seventeen, he began work as a journalist and over the next seven years established an international reputation with his stories and verses of Indian and army life, including such classics as The Jungle Book and Kim. In 1907 he became the first English writer to receive the Nobel Prize.