The Jungle Book I & II

By: Rudyard Kipling

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Children everywhere have read and loved Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book—and continue to do so. Here Blackstone offers this collection of moral fables in its entirety.

Tales of Mowgli, the boy raised by animals in the exotic jungles of India; Rikkitikkitavi, a courageous young mongoose who battles the sinister black cobra Nag; Toomai, the boy who works with elephants; and more will delight listeners both young and old. These classic stories brim with adventure and thrills as the lively characters fend off ferocious tigers and deadly snakes, slip through the jungle to watch elephants dance, and seek refuge from dangerous hunters.

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Though these marvelous tales were written in Victorian times, they are still worthy of being read and enjoyed by today’s youngsters. Fantasy is currently very popular with young readers, and here are stories in this genre that are truly excellent.” (Children’s Literature)

Superb Storytelling

Would you consider the audio edition of The Jungle Book I & II to be better than the print version?

Given that I have never read the print versions of Jungle Book I & II, I am unable to consider it better than then audio editions. Nevertheless, I used the audio edition to my advantage. I listened to this book wherever and whenever I could. I took it places and enjoyed it in a way I could not do with a print book, such as while driving. I also listened to chapters again to catch what I have missed. If you do not have time to read the print version, listen to the audio edition while jogging, driving, or cooking.

What other book might you compare The Jungle Book I & II to and why?

Of Kipling's contemporaries, I compared his Jungle Book I & II to Joel Chandler Harris' "Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings." Both focused on the folklore and songs of a region, giving their stories an air of the exotic. Kipling did not write The Jungle Book for Indian readers but English, and Harris did not write Uncle Remus for African Americans but Anglo Americans. I still enjoy their works but I keep in mind that these stories would be different if written by Indians and African Americans, respectively.

What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like?

Ralph Cosham's performance has great range. He portrayed a variety of characters and accents, both animals and human. I heard The Jungle Book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Moments in the book that particularly moved me were those where the movie and animated versions veered off from the text. I was surprised to read how Shere Khan really died. His original death showed cunning, collaboration, and coordination of Mowgli's part.

Any additional comments?

I listened to many of these stories twice to fully absorb details I missed the first time. Kipling is an exceptional storyteller worth reading and rereading his signature work.

Kipling's prose

kipling's prose is soothing, meant to be slowly and digested easily. for all lovers of language and the written word - a wondrous story teller.

Extraordinary Narrator

And of course, these stories should be read by everyone. The narrator has just the right touch. Extremely satisfied.

Best Version You Will Find

Ralph Cosham brings life to these stories in a miraculous way. You will not be disappointed. He brought me to tears at the climax.

Colorful characters and rich imagery

The law of the jungle rules so be careful not to forget or you might end up dead.
It was fun to revisit an old classic with legendary writing and great narration.

Awesome book!!!!!

Love it. 🐅🐅🐅
Very well written Like how he uses "thee" a lot
Great book

I love this Book

its a smooth story with a few short stories woven in I love it.and woul DC definitely recommend it to everyone.

(Read before buying)

This book is very good. I was misled tho. I expected the full story about mougly but it was actually short story's. I just wanted to inform everyone before buying.

Wonderful Classic

We loved this, we never read the books and only knew the Disney version. What a lovely surprise with so many stories in one and following Mowgli through his life. The Narrator, Ralph Cosham, was really good. He differentiated the characters beautifully, his accent also added to a wonderful experience. Highly recommend it.

Excellent book and excellent reading

The Jungle Book should really be part of the curriculum of every elementary school. It is beautifully written, fascinating and exciting, with thoughtfully imagined human and animal characters, not to mention the jungle environment. There is enough description and information in these stories about animals in the jungle to please both children and adults, and food for thought about societal behavior and survival.