The Jungle Book and Beyond:
Wild Reads for All Ages
by Devon A. Corneal
I grew up with Disney’s 1967 classic, animated movie “The Jungle Book” and still know most of the lyrics to “The Bare Necessities.” Forty-nine years later Disney is back at it, releasing a live-action version of Rudyard Kipling’s incredible story on April 15th. I’ll be there, hoping to be transported beneath the green canopies where Mowgli meets the treacherous Kaa, the protective Bagheera, and the loyal Baloo.
Disney’s ability to turn words on a page into extravagant cinematic experiences is unparalleled, but over time it also means we forget the original words and stories themselves. Before you take your kids to see Mowgli on screen this spring, don’t forget to introduce them to Kipling’s classic — and if that whets your son or daughter’s appetite for jungle stories, we’ve included some other wonderful animal tales to keep them dreaming of swinging from vines and prowling the undergrowth for their next meal.
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The Jungle Book
Available from:There is a version of The Jungle Book for every reader, from adults to preschoolers. You and your teens should dive into Kipling’s original unabridged work featuring seven stories and various poems. Middle grade readers can try their hands at less complicated versions, including Great Illustrated Classics adaptations by Malvina G. Vogel or Dan Johnson (you’ll have to search for a used copy, but it’s worth it) or a new edition containing a subset of the original stories in Kipling’s original text and illustrated by Nicola Bayley, whose stunning drawings evoke the Indian jungle of over a century ago. Early readers will love Laura Driscoll’s retelling, illustrated by Migy Blanco, or Little Golden Book’s take on Mowgli’s adventures.
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Giraffes Can’t Dance
The law of the jungle can be unforgiving, especially if you can’t dance. So discovers Gerard the giraffe, who gets laughed out of the annual dance contest because his knobby knees and uncooperative long legs keep tripping him up. With the help of a very small friend, Gerard discovers that we all can dance if we find music that we love.
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Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth
Available from:Alan the alligator takes great pride in his daily routine of scaring other jungle animals — but one day, when his ferocious teeth go missing, Alan has to decide if scaring is all he’s meant to do.
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Who Woke the Baby?
Someone in the jungle woke up a little gorilla, and he isn’t thrilled about it. Young readers will love searching for the culprit among all the gorilla’s friends.
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Jazzy in the Jungle
The creator of the charming Maisy series has now introduced Jazzy the Lemur, who loves to play hide and seek in the jungle. Bold illustrations and clever cut-outs will keep your preschooler occupied just long enough for you to hide in the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee.
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The Umbrella
Available from:While this story is technically set in a rainforest, not a jungle (don’t know the difference? Check this out!), this tale of a mischievous tree frog who takes an umbrella for a joyride deserves a spot among the best jungle-y books of all time. And if you’ve got a tiny tot at home, you can snag it as a board book too!
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Oh, No!
A hungry tiger, a large hole, an unfortunate frog, and the frog’s hapless rescuers all join together to create a fun read-aloud story of jungle hijinks.
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Clara
This special, (mostly) true story of a rhinoceros taken from the jungle to dazzle the European continent in the 18th century will have kids wide-eyed and begging for more — especially when they learn that Clara met kings and queens, drank buckets of beer, and ate loaves of bread every day. You’ll have to wait until June to get this book, but it will be worth the wait.
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Tarzan
Teen and adult readers who loved Kipling’s tale of a young boy raised by jungle animals will enjoy the more adult Tarzan stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This collection of the first six books — clocking in at 726 pages — is not for the faint of heart. You’ll need to stock plenty of snacks before revisiting the dangerous and exciting jungle Tarzan called home.
Are you planning to see the new “Jungle Book” adaptation? Does your family have any favorite jungle-themed reads?