"The story is rather violent by current standards, but the accomplished visuals in this edition serve its rich, resonant language nicely. (Picture book. 6-9)"
Painterly portraits of African wildlife add naturalistic notes to this ever popular Just So story.
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"Adults who want to move beyond the Disney versions are advised to skip this book and stick to a read-aloud of Kipling's original, sumptuous prose. (Picture book. 4-8)"
A picture-book adaptation of "Mowgli's Brothers," the first tale in Kipling's The Jungle Book, with a little bit of "Kaa's Hunting" thrown in.Read full book review >
"The poem is widely available in collections, but this rendition—an ethereal alternative to the edition illustrated with photographs by Charles R. Smith, Jr. (2007)—makes a lovely keepsake. (introduction) (Picture book. 8-12)"
Though at times symbolic or only obliquely related to the adjacent lines, Manna's graceful images lend luminous visual notes to Kipling's stately prescription for maturity.
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"The story is divided into seven chapters, suitable for short dips or to read all in one rainy afternoon. (iPad storybook app. 4-10)"
Set to Buchanan's lush, luminous illustrations, this adaptation of the adventures of Mowgli introduces the classic to a new generation.
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"The art is more inviting than the strange scenes in John Rowe's edition (1995), but in the end, this one is extra, considering the several other abridged versions available, and the full one illustrated by Lorinda Bryan Cauley (1983). (Picture book/short story. 6-9)"
Sinuous lines make a unifying visual motif for Patterson's dark, richly colored pastels in this lightly abridged version of the classic tale.
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"There's no source note for this very popular and widely parodied verse, but Smith's personal afterword is approachable and thoughtful. (Picture book/poetry. 9-14)"
Smith freshens the tired "sports as life" metaphor with a combination of eye-catching graphic design, compelling sports photography and Kipling's classic inspirational poem.
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"An ideal replacement for the edition of these tales illustrated by Inga Moore (1992), and other edited versions. (Fiction. 9-11)"
Printed on heavy, coated stock, with wide floral borders adding further notes of luxury, these three complete tales from Kipling's classic, with attendant verses, get both sumptuous packaging and a generous helping of small, finely detailed illustrations.
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"They are more likely to appeal to adults than the picture book crowd; as usual, the text is required reading for everybody. (Picture book/folklore. 5-8)"
One of Kipling's best beloved from his Just So Stories (various editions), which explains how the elephant got his trunk, with somewhat enigmatic acrylic illustrations.
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"A mixed success, but surely of interest. (Fiction. 4+)"
An edition distinguished by: (1) an intelligent introduction by scholar Neil Philip, pointing out the tales' links with Kipling family history and quoting a parody that appeared in Punch when they were first published (a ``Very-Nearly Story'' in which the ```defatigable Ruddikip'' addresses young ``Approximately Invaluable'' in ``decapitated polysyllables''); (2) two stories not included before: ``The Tabu Tale,'' a third story about Taffy (very long, even longer than ``The Cat...'' and the most didactic of all—Taffy learns to be still so that her father can hunt, one result being that it's possible to save her from a wolf), and ``Ham and the Porcupine,'' a why story that takes place on Noah's ark; (3) oversumptuous illustrations.
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"A fine introduction to a masterpiece. (Fiction/Picture book. 4+)"
One of the most beautifully crafted, suspenseful, and appealing of all children's stories, this selection from The Jungle Book is handsomely set in a large volume illustrated in a smooth, generalized style.
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"There is no excuse for tampering with it. (Incidentally, this is Bolam's debut, and she looks like a promising illustrator: vigorous bold line and vibrant, sophisticated colors in collage- like blocks.) (Picture book. Not recommended for any age—it's not all right, Best Beloved. Do you see?)"
"An excellent edition for home or library. (Fiction. 4+)"
An unusually handsome presentation of these classic stories, with sophisticated woodcuts that will commend it especially (but not exclusively) to older children.
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