The Elephant's Child

Rating:
Summary: The elephants child
Review: I heard the Elepahnts Child Years ago on Cassette read by Jack Nicholson. It was one of the most incredable things I had heard. It just came alive. The amazing way in which Kipling describes Africa puts it all in full color and gives an interesting perspective from a curious childs point of view in an adult world that is often busy. It is a time period piece that often adults take far too literal. It is important to keep in mind that these stories are legends and should be seen in that point of view, it is usually the adult mind that strays from the illusionary world while the child sees it for the fantasy. Kiplings stories impart wisdom to the child without the child needing have to experienced it themselves. Take a trip to the Limpoopoo trees. It's worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful language, interesting story
Review: Kipling's language is almost poetic. It's meant to be read aloud. When read aloud to a child, say, a beloved girl of six, at bedtime, she stops fidgeting, she listens carefully, she asks questions about what this word means or why the family members are all so mean and have to spank the little elephant with the "'satiable curtiosity." Most of all, she's not bored and she wants to hear it again. And again. And she gets very excited when she finds out that her daddy got the whole series of "Just-So Stories."
I don't know how other children experience this. We're starting to teach our daughter about evolution of species; she asks a lot of questions about what elephants used to look like, and did they really once not have the really long noses they have today? I think she's starting to understand that this is a tall tale, but it's a great springboard for talking about the real-life origin of species (I think this statement is true even if you're trying to raise a creationist child).
Yes, there is a lot of spanking. It didn't seem to upset my daughter, and she's pretty high-strung.
All in all, a nicely rollicking story, and a good introduction to another classic in English-language children's literature.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful language, interesting story
Review: Kipling's language is almost poetic. It's meant to be read aloud. When read aloud to a child, say, a beloved girl of six, at bedtime, she stops fidgeting, she listens carefully, she asks questions about what this word means or why the family members are all so mean and have to spank the little elephant with the "'satiable curtiosity." Most of all, she's not bored and she wants to hear it again. And again. And she gets very excited when she finds out that her daddy got the whole series of "Just-So Stories."
I don't know how other children experience this. We're starting to teach our daughter about evolution of species; she asks a lot of questions about what elephants used to look like, and did they really once not have the really long noses they have today? I think she's starting to understand that this is a tall tale, but it's a great springboard for talking about the real-life origin of species (I think this statement is true even if you're trying to raise a creationist child).
Yes, there is a lot of spanking. It didn't seem to upset my daughter, and she's pretty high-strung.
All in all, a nicely rollicking story, and a good introduction to another classic in English-language children's literature.

Rating:
Summary: Results of being nosey
Review: Right after "The Cat who Walked Alone" This has always been my favorite "Just So Story." It is good to see it in an individual book, as it is a little unwieldy as part of a group. This is the story of a curious elephant and how the elephant go its trunk. I can not say much more as the reader needs to experience the story as it unfolds. The pictures add a dimension and do not distract from the words. Rudyard Kipling is a master at this telling. "In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk."

Rating:
Summary: A Childhood Favorite
Review: Spanking or no, this is one of our very favorite books. People who get hung up on the spanking aspect of the book are missing the whole point of the story, and that, in part, is that you can't deny a child their curiosity, or you will pay for it "in the end". Jack Nicholsen was the perfect choice for narrating this story, too, he really made it come alive, esssspecially the bi-colored, python rock sssnake. Well done!

Rating:
Summary: The best audio tape/book ever
Review: The audio tape for this book is magical. I grew up listening to it at my grandparents house and it was wonderful to listen to while going to bed. I listened to it almost every night and not once did I grow sick of it. The background music is so soothing and the book really comes alive with voice of the narrator. In short I LOVE it and I would strongly recommend it to everyone, no matter what their age!

Rating:
Summary: The best audio tape/book ever
Review: The audio tape for this book is magical. I grew up listening to it at my grandparents house and it was wonderful to listen to while going to bed. I listened to it almost every night and not once did I grow sick of it. The background music is so soothing and the book really comes alive with voice of the narrator. In short I LOVE it and I would strongly recommend it to everyone, no matter what their age!