About the Author

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India, on December 30, 1865. He is best known for his short story collections The Jungle Book, published in 1894, and Just So Stories, published in 1902. He wrote a variety of other short stories, including 'Kim' and 'The Man Who Would Be King, ' and many poems. In 1907, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming the first English-language writer and youngest person to win the award. On January 18, 1936, he died in London at age 70.

Reviews

These adaptations are divided into categories to look like research logs. "Research" features a brief profile of the camel or the leopard, its habitat, and natural prey or nearby animals. "Kipling's Observation" is a highly abridged version of the "Just So" story, supplemented by cartoon bubbles that extend the action and add humor. The ending poem in each story appears in full, followed by a more extended profile of the character. A "Learn More" segment features terms, discussion questions, and opportunities for further exploration. The final section profiles Kipling and the author and illustrator. Overall, fans of Kipling won't find much of his original story here, but the power of the graphic novel to move readers into further exploration of an author's work could rectify that. The over-the-top depictions of wide-eyed animals with exaggerated expressions will please fans of the film Madagascar or Disney's Aladdin, à la Dinn. The log format does little to add to the books' appeal but discussion questions and further research opportunities are always welcome.-- "School Library Journal"

Tulien integrates some of Kipling's original language into the narration. What's so clever? He has the characters, the animals and the Ethiopian, interacting with the narrator. (We don't see a narrator; we just see the narrative text.) Even some of the dialogue is Kipling's original language, which not only makes the text more authentic but adds flavor to the comic, making it more than just a dry adaptation, like so many classic comic adaptations. . . .a great way to introduce and new readers to these stories--and get them hooked.-- "SLJ's Good Comics for Kids blog"