The Jungle Book

by Dan Johnson

Perfect condition of the Great Illustrated Classic. No damage/writing. Never read.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Animals, Fantasy, Chapter Books

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1994

Reviews

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Link to review from another version:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my review on the main version of the book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was by far the hardest Classic Starts I've read. I'll admit, I was expecting more of the Disney movie, but even beyond that this book was disjointed in it's story telling. Kipling uses a different way to tell stories, and he actually sets the most exciting part (the fight with Shere Khan) right at the beginning. After that it becomes a book of shorts stories about the various adventures of Mowgli.

It took a lot of Suspension of Disbelief, and became far too far-fetched for me to enjoy. The chapters were incredibly long, the characters didn't really grow or change. It was a book of short stories, and I don't really care for those.

[Hudson Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

I had only known the Disney retelling of this story before actually taking the time out of my life to read it. I can safely say that they are completely different, with the Disney version definitely being more kid friendly, yet this book was also still very kid friendly.

I have a lot of thoughts on this book but I think it’d be hard to put to words.

Definitely would recommend to everyone to give it a shot at least.

A fun and imaginative story.

[Jessica Mixell · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as kids books go this is a fairly good one. I went into it expecting Disney Jungle book, but it was told out of order from that of the movie.

[José · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I was amazed by the size of this book. The size of the part of the story of Mowgli is even smaller. But the writer doesn't need many words to describe the life of this boy, the animals that are caring for him and the animals that are his enemies. As a childpsychologist I especially was interested in the part in wich Baloo talks to Bagheera about the way in wich you have to teach a child about life. This part of the book makes you wonder about what is better for a child: to be strict and disciplined or friendly and soft. " 'A Man-cub is a Man-cub, and he must learn all the Law of the jungle'. 'But think how small he is,' said the Black Panther, who would have spoiled Mowgli if he had had his own way. 'How can his little head carry all thy long talk?' 'Is there anything in the Jungle too little to be killed? No. That is why I teach him these things, and that is why I hit him, very softly, when he forgets'. 'Softly! What dost thou know of softness, old Ironfeet?' Bagheera grunted. 'His face is all bruised today by thy - softness. Ugh!' 'Better he should be bruised from head to foot by me who love him than that he should come to harm through ignorance,' Baloo answered very earnestly."
In my opinion child abuse goes too far. But what is abuse? Kipling makes it clear that sometimes that is difficult to know.

[Wes Flease · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response: I think this book has lots of different types of characters. I was always interested and wanted to keep reading. The author needs to do a better job of changing up the plot. I found that I always knew what would happen next.

Plot Summary: A boy who lives in the jungle is known to all the jungle creatures. He was an outcast of his tribe. They threw him out of the village because he was different than the rest. The boy makes many friends on his journey to kill the great tiger. He is faced with many more challenges than any normal boy. He must defeat the great tiger, and show he is the true king of the jungle.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in animals. Although animals do die throughout the book. You would not want to be emotional about animals. People with lots of creativity would love this book. There is lots of action.

Characterization: Mowgli started off as a little boy. He was scared, and he was different from most people. He lived in the jungle, and he was learning new things. The boy that started out as a weak and scared boy would slowly make himself a man. He becomes a man when he defeats the great tiger.
Mowgli then becomes king of the jungle.

[Osama Siddique · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Indian Jungle in this book was deeper and darker and more mysterious at the age at which one first read it but revisiting it one rediscovers the thrill of Kiping's storytelling through this good adaptation and very effective illustrations. It has three of the famous stories and while there isn't enough space for character development the stories are so very distinctive in their mood and flavor. So many adaptations and illustrations of this book has been done but all the nostalgia associated with this one makes it very special for me. And the Jungle still looks amazing with its hanging lianas and vines, it muddy streams, its exotic flowers, its steep cliffs and the deserted ruins with ancient cobras keep watch over vast treasures. The Reed Dog/Dhol attack is one of the best stories in the collection and very well reproduced here.

[Brent Ecenbarger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of our favorites so far out of the Great Illustrate Classics. Can't quite put my finger on why, but it was never one our kids were asking what would happen next. We've started Journey to the Center of the Earth and we've been flying through it by comparison. I think the problem was many of the chapters felt like inconsequential adventures, and there wasn't as much of a throughline asides from Mowgli growing up.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the first big chapter books I ever remember reading by myself! Second Grade. I loved it! I read it all the time!
Honestly, this and the Call of the Wild are probably what first started my love of reading. I owe a lot to this book.
I wished I could have grown up with wolves!
Great memories with this one!

[Les Gehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading this book with a group of fourth graders in one of our local elementary schools. It's a great book, and the kids enjoy it. However, I also have to talk with them about the time and place that the book was written. It doesn't hide the brutality of the natural world, but the kids seem to understand that in the jungle life and death is a fine line.

[Salma Alya · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Disney fan who loves the movie adaptation of this book, i satisfied. Altough yes of course there are so many differences between the book and the movie. I think the plot is amazing and meaningful. I believe the story of "The Jungle Book" will be last for a long time

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. The illustrations are ok, nothing more. But the story is amazing and I loved the Disney version and now that I discovered the original one I just love it.

[Jake.l]

I think the theme of this book is always listen to the wiseman and always trust somebody when they tell you to do something

[prithvi krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic book

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and exciting read! My 8-year-old disagrees, he wasn’t a fan.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

always enjoyable. Might have to watch the cartoon Disney movie today.

[Ni · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books that I read in elementary school

[Hadley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing wrong with the book it’s just I felt really bored while reading it and wasn’t excited to pick it back up again

[Lucian Bogdan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cel mai corect ar fi să spun că mi-a stârnit sentimente amestecate. Unele aspecte m-au încântat, pur și simplu, altele mi-au displăcut profund. Un roman grafic ce mi-a oferit un adevărat spectru de trăiri, media făcută acestora fiind nereprezentativă, din cauza disonanței. Dar, ca să pot nota, am ales media de 3 stele - mi-a plăcut.

Dan Johnson realizează unul dintre cele mai reușite scenarii de adaptare a unei opere literare - cel puțin, din ce am întâlnit până acum. Surprinde majoritatea elementelor esențiale - fie în acțiune, fie menționându-le în interacțiunea personajelor. Atmosfera „Cărților junglei” e acolo, ritmul e cel potrivit vieții și sufletului Indiei, spiritul reflectat de Kipling e prezent într-o asemenea măsură, încât m-a făcut să-mi doresc să recitesc opera sa. Ceea ce e mare lucru.

Partea grafică a fost o nucă tare pentru mine. Decupajul mi s-a părut reușit în dinamica sa aproape caricaturală. Peisajele panoramice au avut în ele elemente maiestuoase, impresionante. Dar desenele în sine - ei bine, ca să mă exprim eufemistic, sunt la polul opus de ceea ce apreciez eu în materie de grafică. A fost dureros pentru mine să „admir” majoritatea casetelor, fiind nevoit ori să mă concentrez doar pe dinamică și decupaj, ori pe spiritul lui Kipling prezent în scenariu, ori pe atmosferă, ritm și decoruri.

Ceea ce, până la urmă, reprezintă o experiență aparte în sine. Pe care o apreciez la nivel obiectiv, dar care m-a deranjat la cel subiectiv.

[Anthony Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jungle Book was a very different experience from the animated movie I grew up watching, but a really enjoyable one. Reading it chapter by chapter to my daughter for bedtime brought a feeling of nostalgia in a new and meaningful way. Even though the tone and storytelling are more classic and sometimes more serious than the Disney version, she still seemed to enjoy it, especially the animal characters and the sense of adventure.

Kipling’s writing has a timeless, story-by-the-fire quality to it. The kind of storytelling that feels like it’s been passed down through generations. The lessons, the atmosphere, and the rhythm of the jungle all come through beautifully on the page.

It made me appreciate how stories evolve when they’re adapted, and reading the original made me want to revisit the movie now, just to see the differences and similarities with fresh eyes.

A warm, nostalgic read that feels even more special when shared.

[Dan Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic kids read.
You have to turn a blind eye a bit to the rampant colonialism, especially if you've read anything about what the British were really like in this setting.
But it's a fantasy from way back, so I'm just going to whistle and walk by that baggage.
The Scouts have really used this mythology to great effect and my son recognized a bunch of the characters and sayings from Scouts Canada.
The art was just bad. I dunno if the artist had ever seen wolves and then tried to draw from loose memories? They weren't good wolves.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this at night with my son. He’s ten and we were both gripped by the story. This is different and so so much better than the Disney versions we’ve seen. It’s more emotional, more raw, and powerful. Mowgli is a champion any kid (or mom) can admire.

[Robert Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much different than the Disney version. :) Much better too. That said, it was not quite as good as I hoped it would be, but it is still on of the 100 greatest books ever written. The story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the mongoose was my favorite (I give that one 5 stars).

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

For me, this book was incredibly boring. There was really nothing that made it a page turner in my opinion. As I read more, it became more and more tedious, and I just wanted to finish the book to be done.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book for my daughter was a lot of fun. The illustrations caught her eye and the book was entertaining for me to read. I like Kiplings poetry (with a glaring exception) and I really like this book as well. A worthwhile read and a classic well deserving of the reverence it gets

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Starts retelling of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

[Hhx]

emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Chelsea Garay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly disjointed storytelling which created a strong disinterest.

[Susannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to follow and understand. Some useful expressions inside. Good for beginners.