The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling · 1894
This book is rated Ages 10+. It isn't available on your library card.
From the moonlit hills of Seeonee to the frozen beaches of the north, Kipling’s animal tales follow Mowgli among the wolves, a young white seal seeking a safe home, a fearless mongoose guarding a bungalow, and a boy who witnesses the elephants’ secret dance.
Seven animal adventures, including peril, hunting and fights. Show danger at a distance and without gore. The animal societies reflect the period in which Kipling wrote; keep the narration clear and let the stories speak for themselves.
Characters
Mowgli
A human child raised by wolves, Mowgli learns the jungle’s laws and decides where he belongs.
Mother Wolf (Raksha)
Raksha shelters the man-cub and stands fiercely for his place among the wolf pack.
Father Wolf
A patient hunter who raises Mowgli beside his own cubs.
Shere Khan
The lame tiger claims the man-cub as prey and becomes Mowgli’s chief enemy.
Bagheera
The black panther protects Mowgli and guides him through the dangers of the jungle.
Baloo
The brown bear teaches Mowgli the laws and languages of the jungle.
Kaa
The great python helps rescue Mowgli from the monkey people’s ruined city.
Kotick
A white seal searches the wide Pacific for a safe home for his people.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
A bold mongoose guards a family’s garden against two cobras.
Nagaina
A cobra whose eggs draw Rikki-Tikki into a dangerous struggle.
Little Toomai
A young elephant handler dreams of witnessing the elephants’ secret dance.
Kala Nag
A great black elephant carries Toomai into the forest and its hidden wonders.
About the story
The Jungle Book is a collection of stories set in the forests and villages of India. Its best-known tales follow Mowgli, a small boy who wanders into a wolf's cave one night and is raised by the wolves of the Seeonee Pack. Baloo, the sleepy brown bear who teaches the cubs the Law of the Jungle, and Bagheera, the black panther, watch over him. Shere Khan, the lame tiger who believes the man-cub belongs to him, is always waiting nearby.
As Mowgli grows up he is captured by the lawless Monkey People, meets Kaa, the great rock python, and has to work out where he belongs: with the wolves who raised him, or among the villagers who are his own kind. Kipling uses the animals' speech, songs and strict jungle laws to explore loyalty, belonging, courage, and the rules that hold a community together.
First published in 1894, the book has shaped how generations picture the jungle and its creatures. Its characters have been retold many times on stage and screen. The original, with its old-fashioned "thee" and "thou" speech and its verses between the chapters, still feels vivid, strange and memorable.
This is a condensed picture-book retelling in 120 illustrated pages, focused on Mowgli's adventures, with about 33 minutes of synthetic-voice narration. The illustrations were generated with AI for this edition, and Kipling's full original text is free to read and well worth it.
Adapted from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (1894), public domain.
Questions
What is The Jungle Book about?
It is about Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. The bear Baloo and the panther Bagheera guide him while the tiger Shere Khan hunts him, and as he grows up he must learn the Law of the Jungle and decide where he truly belongs.
Who is the main character in The Jungle Book?
The main character is Mowgli, the "man-cub" adopted by Mother Wolf and Father Wolf. The most important characters around him are Baloo, Bagheera, Akela the wolf leader, Kaa the python, and his enemy Shere Khan.
Is The Jungle Book suitable for children?
This edition is rated 10+. The story includes hunting, fights between animals, danger, and a menacing tiger, and the old-fashioned language can be hard for younger listeners. Most children aged 10 and up can enjoy it, and some will want to read it with an adult.
How long does this edition take to read or listen to?
The narration runs about 33 minutes across 120 illustrated pages, so it fits easily into one sitting or a couple of bedtime sessions.
Is this the full Jungle Book?
No. This is a condensed retelling that focuses on Mowgli's stories. Kipling's complete original text, which also includes other tales and poems, is in the public domain and free to read.
Read the text version: every page's caption, with its picture, on one page.
