Considering all the works of Kipling I have read, this collection of short stories contains some of his his darkest and in some cases hints of dark humor. A very enjoyable read with lots of references to Freemasonry. Many of the stories pointedly show the scars of the first world war and how they affected both the soldier and the civilian. Some very good short stories that take place in lodges. If you enjoyed the Man Who Would Be King or if you are a Freemason you will probably enjoy this book.

This story has a great moral to it as well as being very entertaining and interesting to both children and adults. The plus side of the cassette is that Jack Nicholson tells it in such a way that everyone will enjoy listening to it over and over again. The illustrations are perfect to fit the story and are great at intriguing the children. We have had this story through both of our sons and they both STILL enjoy this book. Hopefully will pass it on to the grandchildren. Tell your friends and family about this one.

Danny Glover reads this, and I enjoyed it as much (maybe more) than my daughter. This book and "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" sold us on Rabbit Ears audiobooks - we now have about a dozen. Get the full size so the child can follow the text easier and you can both enjoy the illustrations.

In this day of political correctness, it is interesting to note the lessons and ideas of days gone past. If this book were written today, it might be seen as "refreshing," but since the original poems were penned in the 19th century (many from much older sources) it is a reminder of how it used to be. "The Betrothed" is the genesis of the famous line "A good woman is just a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke." The ideas presented are shocking, but convey a healthy exploration of the question "What is love worth?" Other poems include a picture of colonial India, a father's advice to his son, and stories of wars long forgotten. This is probably a better book for a man than a woman, but in either case, a really good book to peruse while having a cheroot

This book-tape set has to be one of the best books on tape that rabbit ears has produced. Jack Nicholson's smooth magical voice is just perfect with predictably great music from Bobby McFerrin. A must for every child's library!

Kipling appears to be freighted with controversey. That said, Stalky&Co. is one of those small masterpieces rarely read-more the pity. This wonderful, surprising, semi-autobiographical novel takes place within an English boys school, an institution primarily serving to push young officer candidates forward in their pre-military careers,cramming,inelegantly,for Sandhurst and the like. What sets this book apart from the entire genre is Kipling's extraordinary capacity to bring the three major characters, and the larger cast of minor players, teachers, staff, students, to a brilliant realization. But there is more: within these pages are some of the most uncanny perceptions of human behavior one can find, either within or without a pyschology text. Whatever one thinks of Kipling or the context within which he wrote, this slim volume is luminously lit both by the writer's indelible affection for his creations, and the profundity of what their experiences teach us all. If you swear a solemn oath to read only one single English Nineteenth Century Novel outside of the incomparable canon of Dickens, please, please, track down of copy of Stalky and Company, put aside all preconceptions, and for a too brief period of time, enter a rare, rare world.

Rudyard Kipling has an amazing animal sense. He depicted the characters well and enchanted you to continue reading by keeping you in suspense about Mowgli. This is a must read book.

The audio tape for this book is magical. I grew up listening to it at my grandparents house and it was wonderful to listen to while going to bed. I listened to it almost every night and not once did I grow sick of it. The background music is so soothing and the book really comes alive with voice of the narrator. In short I LOVE it and I would strongly recommend it to everyone, no matter what their age!

Kipling's language is almost poetic. It's meant to be read aloud. When read aloud to a child, say, a beloved girl of six, at bedtime, she stops fidgeting, she listens carefully, she asks questions about what this word means or why the family members are all so mean and have to spank the little elephant with the "'satiable curtiosity." Most of all, she's not bored and she wants to hear it again. And again. And she gets very excited when she finds out that her daddy got the whole series of "Just-So Stories."
I don't know how other children experience this. We're starting to teach our daughter about evolution of species; she asks a lot of questions about what elephants used to look like, and did they really once not have the really long noses they have today? I think she's starting to understand that this is a tall tale, but it's a great springboard for talking about the real-life origin of species (I think this statement is true even if you're trying to raise a creationist child).
Yes, there is a lot of spanking. It didn't seem to upset my daughter, and she's pretty high-strung.
All in all, a nicely rollicking story, and a good introduction to another classic in English-language children's literature.

Right after "The Cat who Walked Alone" This has always been my favorite "Just So Story." It is good to see it in an individual book, as it is a little unwieldy as part of a group. This is the story of a curious elephant and how the elephant go its trunk. I can not say much more as the reader needs to experience the story as it unfolds. The pictures add a dimension and do not distract from the words. Rudyard Kipling is a master at this telling. "In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk."

Like Heath, I also remembered two different books from my childhood that seemed to have the same title. After doing some research on the Internet I finally figured it out: There is this wonderful Kipling book about the mongoose and then there is the childrens' book Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel where poor little Chang falls into a well and his brother Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo tries to save him but gets winded just trying to tell his name to the people he is asking for help. I too have memories of having this book read aloud to me in the library as a child.

Everyone will love Rikki Tikki Tavi. He is cute and furry, he has been rescued from certain death by his humans, and best of all he fights snakes in a land where they are an everyday part of life - and death.

This is not just a story for children. The writing is sophisitcated enough to appeal to adults and is very funny in parts, and very touching in others. But it is a great story to share with children - it touches on all the things we want for our kids - strong and loyal friends, a protective and supportive family, and the ability to know when its time to stand up for yourself, and take risks if you need to.

It is a really wonderful story (as are all of Mr Kipling's - to be fair) but this is quite a masterpiece. Share it with a special child and enjoy it all the more.

I first had this book read to me when I was seven by my father who was a diplomat stationed in New Delhi, India. It continues to bring India alive to me and I have often re-read it as an adult. It invariably causes my heart to race during the most exciting adventure scenes, and leaves me teary-eyed with emotion at Rikki's ultimate triumph. I cannot recall any adult novel with a more gripping and exciting description of a battle than Rikki's nighttime fight to the death with Nag, the Cobra, in the bathroom of the bungalow! Rudyard Kipling is a genius and his stories for children are brilliant in that he never makes animals and their actions "silly" (check out "The Elephant's Child" and some of his others for very young audiences). Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is all about heroism and love, and every child and adult who reads this book will cherish it forever.