Kipling's White Man's Burden is thankfully little in evidence in [The Jungle Book] except in power over animals,
"...Aleuts are not clean people," and Little Toomai feeling 'honored' that a white man noticed him.

Illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg are perfect, as is the first story "Mowgli's Brothers."

The developing friendship of the "man's cub" with Baloo, the Big Bear, and Bagheera, the Black Panther, is inspiring!

Mowgli's brave revenge against Shere Khan and the restoration of Akela balanced the young man's earlier
rescue from the horrible howler monkeys. The love of Baloo and Bagheera, with the reluctant help of Ka, saved his life.

Mowgli's humorous visits to men contrast with Raksha, his wolf mother's "My heart is heavy with the things I do not understand."

(Did Diana Gabaldon borrow the cows and ravine episode?)

"The White Seal" offers a courageous bold leader who brings his seal family and friends
to a land away from plundering and hateful murdering men. A good one for Canadian reading.

"Servants of the Queen" delivers an awful tale of guns and the abuse of camels.

"Rikki Tikki Tavi" tells the tale of how a mongoose defeated a cobra and protected a family. ( )

I read this in high school in the "Last Chance Reading" class. I knew is was a classic, but I didn't know much about it. It had never appealed to me, but I felt I should have it in my repertoire. I think I enjoyed it more than I had expected. ( )