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The White Seal
Written by the two-time Academy-Award winner, this is a story about Kotec, who is an adorable baby white seal who inhabits a world of tension. He emerges as a true hero and shows his courage and determination in finding the solution to seal survival - an island safe from his greatest enemy: man.
38 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1893
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140 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,277 books3,741 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 30, 2022
Uno splendido racconto, ancora una volta sul mondo della natura, sulla coesione che in esso esiste e che manca nel mondo degli uomini, sul superamento dei propri limiti e sulla capacità di credere in se stessi.
E una foca bianca, esemplare unico nel suo genere, riesce in una impresa dove altre non sono arrivate, mettere al sicuro il proprio branco, trovare un rifugio lontano dalla mattanza dell’uomo e diventare un leader. La diversità è una forza, spinge dove altri non sarebbero mai arrivati e vince.
Una bella lettura con una forte morale.
E una foca bianca, esemplare unico nel suo genere, riesce in una impresa dove altre non sono arrivate, mettere al sicuro il proprio branco, trovare un rifugio lontano dalla mattanza dell’uomo e diventare un leader. La diversità è una forza, spinge dove altri non sarebbero mai arrivati e vince.
Una bella lettura con una forte morale.
November 10, 2021
This was a terrific story.
It was at the end of The Jungle Book.
It was at the end of The Jungle Book.
March 12, 2019
Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Seal” receives 5 stars from me due to the excellent story, strong use of themes that transcend childhood.
First, I listened to this via a YouTube channel. The reader was Richard, and he did an excellent job. This is a children’s book and he read it at the appropriate speed and emotions. He also had nice voices for the characters.
Now the book. I’ve read Kipling some, but not a great deal. Reading his stories as an adult help me improve my delayed reading skills. I came to this story via a choral work by Eric Whitacre called “The Seal Lullaby,” based on the lullaby from Kipling’s work.
The White Seal doesn’t disappoint. It is a rich tale of adventure based on the desire to help one’s fellow creatures. Kotick, the seal, is motivated by the desire to see his friends and family safe. This theme was dramatic to me, and touched me dearly—should we not, even now, be motivated by the desire to help and improve the lives of ourselves AND our friends and family. Should we not work tirelessly to make our world a better place?
The tale is filled with adventure, hope, learning—this also stood out to me. Kotick goes out and learns, learns about the world, learns languages, etc. Read this with a child and explain that through learning, he was able to accomplish everything he did. By going out and seeing the world, he became a better seal.
This is simply a wonderful tale for children, but one that adults should also take to heart.
Recommended: yes, at any age.
First, I listened to this via a YouTube channel. The reader was Richard, and he did an excellent job. This is a children’s book and he read it at the appropriate speed and emotions. He also had nice voices for the characters.
Now the book. I’ve read Kipling some, but not a great deal. Reading his stories as an adult help me improve my delayed reading skills. I came to this story via a choral work by Eric Whitacre called “The Seal Lullaby,” based on the lullaby from Kipling’s work.
The White Seal doesn’t disappoint. It is a rich tale of adventure based on the desire to help one’s fellow creatures. Kotick, the seal, is motivated by the desire to see his friends and family safe. This theme was dramatic to me, and touched me dearly—should we not, even now, be motivated by the desire to help and improve the lives of ourselves AND our friends and family. Should we not work tirelessly to make our world a better place?
The tale is filled with adventure, hope, learning—this also stood out to me. Kotick goes out and learns, learns about the world, learns languages, etc. Read this with a child and explain that through learning, he was able to accomplish everything he did. By going out and seeing the world, he became a better seal.
This is simply a wonderful tale for children, but one that adults should also take to heart.
Recommended: yes, at any age.
May 14, 2012
Many of Kipling's stories are fables. This one made the most sense. It is a very simple story. One that you could tell a child at night before going to bed. It makes several good points in a very simple, easy to understand narrative.
June 27, 2016
Another great classic animal story by Kipling. This one features a white seal born into a colony that experiences troubles from hunters. A great underdog on a quest story.
July 2, 2020
Check out my reviews on the main versions of each book.
May 5, 2016
This book was included in the free Kindle download of _The Jungle Book_. Never heard of it, but it's short and entertaining.
June 10, 2020
Al releerlo, no lo recordaba igual; pero si recordaba barbarie humana plasmada en él, y que ha hecho tantos estragos en el reino animal.
September 8, 2022
Rating: 3.5/5
October 24, 2020
Kotick is an unusual seal, white as the purest snow. When he discovers that the island on which he and thousands of other seals live is also inhabited by Aleuts, who periodically hunt the seals, Kotick wonders if there is a way out for the seals.
A simple short story, brought alive by Kipling’s ability to depict creatures. Kotick, the other seals, the walrus, and the other creatures he comes in contact with are of course examples of anthropomorphism, but in a way that is obviously affectionate towards the animals. The writer, it’s clear, is all on the side of the animals.
A lovely short story. I hadn’t known Kipling wrote stories set so far away from England and India.
A simple short story, brought alive by Kipling’s ability to depict creatures. Kotick, the other seals, the walrus, and the other creatures he comes in contact with are of course examples of anthropomorphism, but in a way that is obviously affectionate towards the animals. The writer, it’s clear, is all on the side of the animals.
A lovely short story. I hadn’t known Kipling wrote stories set so far away from England and India.
August 7, 2020
Le Phoque Blanc nous emmène en Alaska et nous raconte le difficile travail de persuasion préalable à l'établissement d'une nursery de phoques à un nouvel endroit que celui traditionnellement fréquenté par le groupe.
Kipling glisse dans ses nouvelles, subrepticement, discrètement, des allusions qu'on qualifierait aujourd'hui « d'écologistes » quant à l'impact de l'homme sur les populations animales.
Il s'agissait d'une autre nouvelle et ne voyais pas le lien avec le titre du bouquin "Le livre de la Jungle"
Kipling glisse dans ses nouvelles, subrepticement, discrètement, des allusions qu'on qualifierait aujourd'hui « d'écologistes » quant à l'impact de l'homme sur les populations animales.
Il s'agissait d'une autre nouvelle et ne voyais pas le lien avec le titre du bouquin "Le livre de la Jungle"
January 21, 2021
White Seal is an enjoyable short story from the Jungle Book. Its in a wrong book though because jungle is nowhere to be found.
December 14, 2021
Bonito e instructivo cuento que nos llama a reflexionar.
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January 12, 2022I liked it.
January 16, 2023
A short story found in The Jungle book.
August 8, 2023
An awesome children's book ages 8+ atleast, read it part of a book collection of Kipling's works. Recommended read.
April 11, 2024
Brave seal story
April 27, 2025
Very cute story. Feel sad for the seals that were hunted tho. :'(
July 6, 2017
Originally this was a short story by Rudyard Kipling that can be found within his "Jungle Book" series and then was made into a movie for children to watch thus the cartoonish illustrations found within the pages. And in the end it is a movie that I hope to watch eventually just to see how well they carried it out.
When compared to the actual short story by Rudyard Kipling you can notice where they removed parts of the story and either continued with the plot or added something else to it, which I didn't remember from the original. All in all the creative licenses that were used didn't take away from the book itself but helped the short to be shortened more than it was.
The illustration style was interesting and knowing that is coming from the movie sparks my interest. The main character is more or less quite cartoonish while other characters in the book don't seem so much as bad. The colors in some cases are quite bright so give a contrast and also at the same time an emphasis to the main parts of the story.
All in all it was a great adaptation for children and one that can be used to introduce them to reading from Kipling. Parents or other adults will be required to help children with place names and/or some of the character names but all in all they should be good.
When compared to the actual short story by Rudyard Kipling you can notice where they removed parts of the story and either continued with the plot or added something else to it, which I didn't remember from the original. All in all the creative licenses that were used didn't take away from the book itself but helped the short to be shortened more than it was.
The illustration style was interesting and knowing that is coming from the movie sparks my interest. The main character is more or less quite cartoonish while other characters in the book don't seem so much as bad. The colors in some cases are quite bright so give a contrast and also at the same time an emphasis to the main parts of the story.
All in all it was a great adaptation for children and one that can be used to introduce them to reading from Kipling. Parents or other adults will be required to help children with place names and/or some of the character names but all in all they should be good.
June 8, 2016
'They told him that men had always driven the holluschickie [yearling seals] —it was part of the day's work—and that if he did not like to see ugly things he should not have gone to the killing grounds. But none of the other seals had seen the killing, and that made the difference between him and his friends. Besides, Kotick was a white seal.
"What you must do," said old Sea Catch, after he had heard his son's adventures, "is to grow up and be a big seal like your father, and have a nursery on the beach, and then they will leave you alone. In another five years you ought to be able to fight for yourself." Even gentle Matkah, his mother, said: "You will never be able to stop the killing. Go and play in the sea [...]"'
"What you must do," said old Sea Catch, after he had heard his son's adventures, "is to grow up and be a big seal like your father, and have a nursery on the beach, and then they will leave you alone. In another five years you ought to be able to fight for yourself." Even gentle Matkah, his mother, said: "You will never be able to stop the killing. Go and play in the sea [...]"'
November 7, 2012
A white seal, Kotick, sees his fellow seals being hunted and killed by men and decides to do something about it. He searches for a long time to find a safe, sheltered beach where they can live without men being able to reach them. When he tries to get his tribe of seals to move they mock him and he has to fight them. At its core, it's a story about doing something brave when everyone tells you that you can't do it. He refuses to accept things as they are and instead searches for a better life and succeeds.
January 9, 2015
I didn't read his exact version, I read a book that had a ton of rudyard killings books in it, but in shorter version. But I didn't like it to much, I thought it was sorta boring. I do however like how rudyard Kipling writes about animals .
January 15, 2017
I read the book to my child before going to sleep, who loved it. It is a cute short fable by Kipling, with several teachings, from love to animals to persistence, setting lofty goals for ourself, and ignoring criticisms if you think you are doing the right thing.
January 18, 2011
Jonathan loves this book. Requests it all the time.
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February 12, 2014TRH, April 1987, White Settlement, Ft. Worth, TX
December 31, 2016
I love how Kipling makes animals come to life.
January 7, 2017
Cute. A tale of perseverance.
March 29, 2017
* Lugares:
-Alaska, Estados Unidos.
-Mar de Bering, Océano Pacífico.
-Alaska, Estados Unidos.
-Mar de Bering, Océano Pacífico.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews