Thursday, February 4, 2010

52 Books in 52 Weeks - Week 4: Just So Stories

In the High and Far Off Times, the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk. He had only a blackish, bulgy nose, as big as a boot, that he could wriggle about from side to side but he couldn't pick up things with it. But there was one Elephant - a new Elephant - an Elephant's Child - who was full of 'satiable curiosity...
So opens The Elephant's Child in Rudyard Kipling's imaginative collection, Just So Stories.  Written in 1902, the stories are just as pleasing to read today as they were then. With his fantastic imagination and command of language, Mr. Kipling brings to life many a tale and attempts to explain some puzzling questions children often ask. In addition to the well known story How the Leopard got his spots, the author has tackled such things as the beginning of the alphabet, kangaroos and has even attempted to explain cats!

Read this book out loud if you can - the names are too fabulous to keep all to yourself - names like Stickly-Prickly, Slow-and-Solid, Koodoo, Quanga and Teshumai Tewindrow (which means "Lady-who-asks-a-very-many-questions") along with her husband Tegumai Bopsulai (meaning man-who-does-not-put-his- foot-forward-in-a-hurry). Your entire family will enjoy it, no matter what age!

1 comment:

cjtoscano said...

One of my favorite books. I love the crab that played with the sea