Just So Stories

A dozen fables by one of the world's great storytellers propose whimsical explanations of how certain animals acquired their distinctive physical characteristics: "How the Camel Got His Hump," "How the Whale Got His Throat," "How the Leopard Got His Spots," "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin," "The Elephant's Child," and 7 others.

Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is best remembered for children's tales such as The Jungle Book as well as his poetry and stories about British soldiers in India, which include "Gunga Din" and The Man Who Would Be King. Kipling was enormously popular at the turn of the 20th century but his reputation declined with the change in attitude toward British imperialism. In recent years Kipling's works have found new acclaim as a vibrant source of literary and cultural history.