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How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin
Relates how the rhinoceros's lack of manners resulted in his baggy skin and bad temper.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1992
2 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,194 books3,724 followersJoseph Rudyard Kipling was a journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist.
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King (1888). His poems include Mandalay (1890), Gunga Din (1890), The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919), The White Man's Burden (1899), and If— (1910). He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story; his children's books are classics of children's literature; and one critic described his work as exhibiting "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the United Kingdom, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Henry James said: "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius (as distinct from fine intelligence) that I have ever known." In 1907, at the age of 41, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded out for the British Poet Laureateship and on several occasions for a knighthood, both of which he declined.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907 "in consideration of the power of observation, originality of imagination, virility of ideas and remarkable talent for narration which characterize the creations of this world-famous author."
Kipling kept writing until the early 1930s, but at a slower pace and with much less success than before. On the night of 12 January 1936, Kipling suffered a haemorrhage in his small intestine. He underwent surgery, but died less than a week later on 18 January 1936 at the age of 70 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. Kipling's death had in fact previously been incorrectly announced in a magazine, to which he wrote, "I've just read that I am dead. Don't forget to delete me from your list of subscribers."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 19, 2021
This is the version we have with the timeless illustrations, and an inscription gifting the book to a little boy in 1948 :)
watched-film-only
July 31, 2013Added 7/31/13.
You can stream a video of this story via an Amazon Instant Video at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
"How the Rhino Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump"
Told by Jack Nicholson; Music-Bobby McFerrin
"The narration by Jack Nicholson, and music and sound effects by Bobby McFerrin are wonderful." -from a customer review
You can stream a video of this story via an Amazon Instant Video at:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009...
"How the Rhino Got His Skin/How the Camel Got His Hump"
Told by Jack Nicholson; Music-Bobby McFerrin
"The narration by Jack Nicholson, and music and sound effects by Bobby McFerrin are wonderful." -from a customer review
February 16, 2026
Mission 2026: Binge reviewing all previous Reads, I was too slothful to review back when I read them
I find myself returning to Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages, Harold Bloom’s curious and luminous anthology. Rather than reading it whole, I am lingering over each selection, one at a time. Each reflection unfolds under two simple but enduring inquiries: What is it truly about? And why does it still deserve our attention in 2026 and the years that follow?
What is it truly about?
For starters, though this looks like a playful fable, beneath the laughter it studies irritation, revenge, and the comic mechanics of cause and effect. A Parsi baker is robbed of his cake by a rude Rhinoceros, and instead of roaring heroics, he chooses patient mischief: he slips crumbs into the beast’s skin, turning every scratch into a storm of itch.
The tale is really about consequences that cling closer than conscience. Kipling shows how small wrongs ferment into lifelong discomfort, how cruelty breeds absurdity, and how dignity can be quietly reclaimed through wit, not violence.
The Rhinoceros becomes ridiculous, dancing and wriggling in helpless fury, while the baker stands calm, almost amused. Beneath the comic surface lies a sly meditation on power: the mighty body undone by invisible grains, pride punctured by persistence, and justice arriving not as thunder but as an itch that will not end.
Why does it still deserve our attention in 2026 and the years that follow?
In 2026 and beyond, the story still earns its keep because it understands human pettiness with disarming clarity. We live in a world of instant outrage and louder retaliation, yet Kipling whispers that clever restraint can outplay brute force.
The fable also mirrors modern psychology: irritations ignored grow into chronic unrest; societies too can itch when injustice hides in the folds. Its humour remains fresh because it laughs at ego, that timeless influencer who still runs our feeds.
For younger readers, the piece is a gateway to storytelling that is rhythmic, oral, and joyfully exaggerated; for older ones, it is nostalgia with teeth, reminding us that civility without accountability is only polished rudeness.
The final image of the ever-itching hide feels strangely modern: a meme of consequences looping forever.
That is why this light, bright tale still scratches our minds today and will keep doing so tomorrow, teaching with a grin that actions always leave a texture we must wear on our shared human skin of memory and responsibility for years to come surely enough said now indeed.
Most recommended.
I find myself returning to Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages, Harold Bloom’s curious and luminous anthology. Rather than reading it whole, I am lingering over each selection, one at a time. Each reflection unfolds under two simple but enduring inquiries: What is it truly about? And why does it still deserve our attention in 2026 and the years that follow?
What is it truly about?
For starters, though this looks like a playful fable, beneath the laughter it studies irritation, revenge, and the comic mechanics of cause and effect. A Parsi baker is robbed of his cake by a rude Rhinoceros, and instead of roaring heroics, he chooses patient mischief: he slips crumbs into the beast’s skin, turning every scratch into a storm of itch.
The tale is really about consequences that cling closer than conscience. Kipling shows how small wrongs ferment into lifelong discomfort, how cruelty breeds absurdity, and how dignity can be quietly reclaimed through wit, not violence.
The Rhinoceros becomes ridiculous, dancing and wriggling in helpless fury, while the baker stands calm, almost amused. Beneath the comic surface lies a sly meditation on power: the mighty body undone by invisible grains, pride punctured by persistence, and justice arriving not as thunder but as an itch that will not end.
Why does it still deserve our attention in 2026 and the years that follow?
In 2026 and beyond, the story still earns its keep because it understands human pettiness with disarming clarity. We live in a world of instant outrage and louder retaliation, yet Kipling whispers that clever restraint can outplay brute force.
The fable also mirrors modern psychology: irritations ignored grow into chronic unrest; societies too can itch when injustice hides in the folds. Its humour remains fresh because it laughs at ego, that timeless influencer who still runs our feeds.
For younger readers, the piece is a gateway to storytelling that is rhythmic, oral, and joyfully exaggerated; for older ones, it is nostalgia with teeth, reminding us that civility without accountability is only polished rudeness.
The final image of the ever-itching hide feels strangely modern: a meme of consequences looping forever.
That is why this light, bright tale still scratches our minds today and will keep doing so tomorrow, teaching with a grin that actions always leave a texture we must wear on our shared human skin of memory and responsibility for years to come surely enough said now indeed.
Most recommended.
March 26, 2018
It was actually a video that I saw when subbing in a class of 1st graders. It is one of the fictional, short children's stories from Rudyard Kipling's book, Just So Stories. (Jack Nicholson was not the author, just the narrator in the video!) I looked up the author later when I got home and apparently he had written other stories about animals in that book, as well as other books. He was born to British parents in India, when it was a British colony. So he probably learned about many animals while living there. This story takes place in India. I also read that he named the overall book, Just So Stories, because when he told these stories to his daughter, Josephine, she would get mad if he didn't tell them "just so" in words that she would understand. There is also a picture book called How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin. The pictures in the video were based on this picture book version.
April 4, 2018
This origin story for children reads like a folk tale of people native to the region where the rhinoceros lives. Given his travels and innate curiosity and intelligence, it is possible that this story is an adaptation of one Kipling was exposed to while in Africa.
The illustrations are sometimes in full color and in all cases are very detailed. The story is written at the level of the child in the middle of elementary school. It is easy to understand and amusing as a trick is played on the bad-mannered rhinoceros. There are also a few potential giggles if read with the proper voice inflection.
The illustrations are sometimes in full color and in all cases are very detailed. The story is written at the level of the child in the middle of elementary school. It is easy to understand and amusing as a trick is played on the bad-mannered rhinoceros. There are also a few potential giggles if read with the proper voice inflection.
April 4, 2018
Although the Just So stories are aimed at children, it is wonderful to see another side of Kiplings work and writing style. It is a shame a lot of his Indian Tales were not written like this or in this style. I am very glad to have read a lot of these works to really build up a much bigger overview of the author himself.
August 30, 2023
I’ll be honest, I’ve never read anything else by Rudyard Kipling so I have nothing else to compare it to. This is cute, I admit, but not one of the best short stories I’ve read — perhaps Kipling’s others are more enticing. Either way, it was just average to me.
March 30, 2020
Hilarious. I would never ever guess why rhino has wrinkled skin.
July 18, 2022
Silly Story
I remember my grandmother had this book and read it to me when I was very little. I have never seen the book since, but have fond memories of it.
I remember my grandmother had this book and read it to me when I was very little. I have never seen the book since, but have fond memories of it.
June 14, 2024
otro autor que detesto (es personal)
March 28, 2009
This review also refers to the audio cd version of this tale.
"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" is one of the "Just So stories" featured in the Rabbit Ears series and is probably one of Jack Nicholson's best performances yet! In this story, a rude rhinoceros gets what he deserves when he makes the Parsee Man angry after the rhinoceros eats his cake without his permission.
Jack Nicholson's narration is rich and sarcastic, especially during the scene where the Parsee Man gets his revenge on the rhinoceros and Jack Nicholson seems to be snickering at the entire ordeal. Tim Raglin's illustrations are beautiful and colorful, especially of the Parsee Man's hat being "radiant" in the sun's rays. Bobby McFerrin's music is creative and jazzy as he mainly produces sound from his mouth to make music. This book is certainly a joy for fans of the famous "Just So" stories.
"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" is one of the "Just So stories" featured in the Rabbit Ears series and is probably one of Jack Nicholson's best performances yet! In this story, a rude rhinoceros gets what he deserves when he makes the Parsee Man angry after the rhinoceros eats his cake without his permission.
Jack Nicholson's narration is rich and sarcastic, especially during the scene where the Parsee Man gets his revenge on the rhinoceros and Jack Nicholson seems to be snickering at the entire ordeal. Tim Raglin's illustrations are beautiful and colorful, especially of the Parsee Man's hat being "radiant" in the sun's rays. Bobby McFerrin's music is creative and jazzy as he mainly produces sound from his mouth to make music. This book is certainly a joy for fans of the famous "Just So" stories.
April 22, 2019
The illustrations in this are so gorgeous -- I wish I had the entire series. I've never read Rudyard Kipling until now. I don't really know how to feel about the story -- it's funny, but I guess I also found it kind of worrisome, clenching in case it got offensive, wondering if it was already offensive. But I liked he language a lot; I didn't realize Rudyard Kipling was so much fun. There are plenty of old writers that stick around that aren't any fun at all -- Treasure Island is a really horribly boring book for instance.
June 19, 2007
i want a hat just like the parsee's - with colors of many splendor!
November 13, 2007
The book is good, but there is a cassette with Jack Nicholson reading that is wonderful.
February 4, 2016
A lovely re-telling (word for word in fact) of this classic tale.
Where it's at is the illustrations. The drawings of the Parsee are terrific!
Where it's at is the illustrations. The drawings of the Parsee are terrific!
September 28, 2016
Lovely read
December 29, 2016
Los típicos libros que uso para aprender y practicar mi frances :-)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews