Tales from the Jungle Book

Author: Steve
Publisher: Not available
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Kindergarten-grade 6 as well done as this retelling is, as a substitute for The Jungle Book it isn't. McKinley retells "Mowgli's Brothers," "Kaa's Hunting," and "Tiger! Tiger!" in uncluttered prose, preserving much of Kipling's dialogue. The stories about Mowgli are readable, fast-moving, and true to their original plots (although many digressions are eliminated). Smith's full-color illustrations slightly anthropomorphize the animals' expressions and are most effective with Mowgli's adversaries, terrifying She-R Khan the tiger and Mowgli's menacing monkey captors. However, even this well-illustrated, well-written retelling should not pretend to be Kipling. Lost is the music, rhythm, and color provided by Mowgli's originator. In simplifying the language, its power is diluted. The message is true, but the language of the retelling has been muted so that it is more like an echo than the powerful resonance of the original. These tales will appeal to reluctant older readers whom may never read Kipling, or offer an introduction to Kipling to younger independent readers who will eventually read the original. Carolyn Noah, Worcester Public Library, Mass.