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The Elephant's Child: And Other Just So Stories
children's classic
83 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1902
2 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Rudyard Kipling
7,195 books3,725 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
June 6, 2013
Just so Stories is full of colorful tales of how things came to be. Though some stories have words that are just right for the situation others become more confusing with ill placed, advanced vocabulary. The stories included are just right for reading out loud, seeing as it loses its lyrical ring when read alone. There is the downside that the vocabulary may be a little too much for most children to follow along, so my recommended age for this book is 9-12. Happy reading, O my Best Beloved.
Added Review by a 9 year old.
I thought it was a really good book. It had some parts that were really funny, but there were a few parts I couldn't understand. I would recommend this book to people who would like to read to another person.
Added Review by a 9 year old.
I thought it was a really good book. It had some parts that were really funny, but there were a few parts I couldn't understand. I would recommend this book to people who would like to read to another person.
October 28, 2007
I must read this again
May 12, 2023
A lovely collection of short stories with poems at the end!
February 2, 2025
My favorite Just so story.
September 29, 2008
I absolutely adore Rudyard Kipling, and the Elephant's Child is one of my all time favorite childrens books. It's the story of how the elephant got his nose. There are highlights galore in the story including the bi-colored python rock snake and his peculiar manner of speaking, and I love the description of the procession of the equinoxes. Every time I read one of these stories I am amazed at Kipling's story telling ability. His creativity is fabulous and the stories are just plain fun. Right now we have it on audio book and we listen to it on our long car ride too and from school.
May 12, 2008
My Mom used to read me these stories when I was younger. They're all about animals, so I found them to be endlessly amusing. Some of the titles I remember were How the Camel Got His Hump, How the Leopard Got His Spots, and The Cat That Walked By Himself.
March 7, 2021
Historierne er som altid gode og der er en historie med, om leopardens plettet, som ikke er på den anden danske udgave på mofibo. Oplæsningen er god, men dog lidt mere triviel og har ikke samme niveau af charme som udgaven med Annette Grunnet.
September 20, 2008
I remember reading this book so many times as a kid..
January 6, 2009
The other stories in the book are good, too, but didn't hold my interest or remain in my memory as clearly as the Elephant's Child.
Read
August 7, 2009The Elephant's Child always has been and will always continue to be my favorite story
June 10, 2010
Good read.
January 7, 2013
Excellent.
Read
June 4, 2014x3
May 10, 2016
cute story about how elephants got their noses.
September 30, 2011
Genius.
September 26, 2012
Perfection.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews