The Jungle Book »

Christopher Paolini is the author of the award-winning Inheritance cycle books, including Eragon.

When young little Mowgli's parents are run out of their camp by a formidable Bengal tiger, the toddler scampers to safety alone in the cave of a Seeonee wolf pack. Thereafter forest animals succor Mowgli and through his wits and their kindness, he reaches adulthood.

Children's Literature

Though these marvelous tales were written in Victorian times, they are still worthy of being read and enjoyed by today's youngsters. Fantasy is currently very popular with young readers and here are stories in this genre that are truly excellent. Father Wolf finds the baby Mowgli in the jungle. After being rescued from the terrible tiger, Shere Khan, he is taken in by the wolf pack and raised as one of them. Baloo the bear and Bhageera the panther also help rear Mowgli. Another fascinating tale tells of Kotick, a rare white seal who searches for a safe haven from the seal hunters. How elephants dance is recounted in "Toomai of the Elephants." The most well known of the tales is "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." He is a mongoose who saves a boy named Teddy and his family from being killed by a pair of deadly cobras named Nag and Nagaina. This edition is enhanced with greatly detailed black and white illustrations that depict exciting events in most of the stories. All children should have access to this classic book, so purchase is suggested if a copy is not already in the collection. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth