(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kristjana S. Williams. Five linked stories expand the adventures of Kipling's Mowgli. The first four stories illustrate important qualities and skills through the experiences of Mother Wolf, Bagheera the panther, Baloo the bear, and Kaa the snake. In the final tale, Mowgli draws on each lesson to prevail over his own adversary, the great white ape. Williams's illustrations add interest, but Rundell's storytelling is the star of this collection.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 New Jungle Book Adventures series. Illustrated by Javier Joaquin. London boy Mak must use his wits to survive after a boat accident in the Indian jungle. Mak learns from wolves, a panther, and a bear while fending off threats from cobras, poachers, and more. A pedestrian reboot of Kipling's famous tale told in straightforward prose, this contemporary wilderness-survival story cashes in on TV-adventurer Grylls's famous can-do approach. Survival tips appended.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) K-3 In this adaptation of Kipling's classic, each turn of the page reveals a large intricately engineered pop-up tableau as well as smaller vignettes that unfold in corners. The most impressive of the pop-ups include monkeys swinging from a towering temple and fierce Shere Khan the tiger ready to pounce on his prey Mowgli. The creative bravura of these pop-ups--many even have flocking--will amaze readers.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) YA Translated by Terese Edelstein. Based upon real life events, this fast-paced Belgium import is a moving story about the tragic waste of war. Spillebeen offers an intriguing account of eighteen-year-old John Kipling, son of author Rudyard Kipling, remembering childhood moments with his father as he lies dying in Loos, France. An epilogue puts the story in historical context. Bib.

Reviewer: Ed Spicer

(4) 4-6 Poetry for Young People series. Illustrated by Jim Sharpe. An introduction to Kipling's verse showcases his remarkable poetic imagination. An explanatory sentence or two precedes each inclusion. Most poems are excerpts from longer pieces, but a few appear in their entirety; together they reveal the humor, romance, excitement, and courage contained in his work. The oil paintings are handsome, but the small type size is off-putting. Ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute