This must-have picture book adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved classic The Jungle Book brings Mowgli’s story to a new generation of readers. Mowgli loves living in the jungle with his wolf family and his friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. He’s been learning the ways of the jungle ever since he was a little boy. But when the tiger Shere Khan tries to turn the pack against Mowgli, making him feel unwelcome, Mowgli realizes he may not belong here after all. What will happen when it’s time for the boy to leave the wolf pack that raised him to go live with his people? The lively text coupled with Migy Blanco’s beautiful, vibrant illustrations adapts the original story for the picture book audience. Fans of this classic about courage and the power of family will love to introduce little ones to the legendary cast of characters with this accessible take on Mowgli’s timeless journey. An Unforgettable Animal Adventure: Join Mowgli, the man-cub, as he learns the ways of the jungle from his wise friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. - A Timeless Friendship Story: Discover the heartwarming bond between a boy, a bear, and a panther as they face danger and make difficult choices together. - A Story About Belonging: When the fearsome tiger Shere Khan turns the pack against him, Mowgli must figure out where he truly belongs—in the jungle or the village. - The Perfect Bedtime Story: With vibrant illustrations and an accessible retelling, this classic is perfect for introducing little ones to a beloved tale of family and courage. PreS-Gr 2-This retelling opens with Mowgli showcasing his jungle skills as taught to him by Baloo and Bagheera. Vibrant digital vignettes display Mowgli not only surviving but thriving in a wild setting. Moving on to Mowgli's backstory, readers are introduced to villain Shere Khan. Through the tiger's dialogue, readers learn that Mowgli was abandoned in the forest by his parents, and can safely assume that Shere Khan means to harm him-though it is merely evidenced by the way the tiger roars his claims to the child and not explicitly stated in text. Fortunately, Mother and Father Wolf leap to Mowgli's defense and offer him love and protection as adoptive parents. As a young boy, Mowgli is safe and happy in his jungle home, but as he grows, the animals who vowed to protect him age and younger animals rise up to take leadership of the pack. The younger animals are vulnerable to Shere Khan's bad intentions, which puts Mowgli in a position where he must prove himself at a special pack meeting. This retelling is a great beginner version for young listeners as the lush beauty and exciting activities one can enjoy only in the wild are highlighted over the more mature elements of the story, such as abandonment and Shere Khan's plans to kill the child. The dynamic digital cartoon artwork supports this by depicting the jungle animals with large, expressive eyes and soft lines that take the bite out of fearsome features like claws and sharp teeth. VERDICT A solid addition to most library collections.-Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OHα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Mowgli loves living in the jungle with his wolf family and his friends Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. He’s been learning the ways of the jungle ever since he was a little boy. When the tiger Shere Khan tries to turn the wolf pack against Mowgli, making him feel unwelcome, Mowgli realizes he may not belong here after all. But what will happen when it’s time for the boy to leave the pack that raised him and go live with his people? Filled with vibrant full-color illustrations, Mowgli’s story comes to life in this fresh retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book . Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay (now known as Mumbai), India, but returned with his parents to England at the age of five. Among Kipling’s best-known works are The Jungle Book , Just So Stories , and the poems “Mandalay” and “Gunga Din.” Kipling was the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel Prize for literature (1907) and was among the youngest to have received the award.  Laura Driscoll is the author of many beginning reader books, including I Want to Be a Doctor , I Want to Be a Pilot , and other books in this series. She lives in central Connecticut with her husband and two kids. Migy Blanco started his career in London, where he lived for ten years after graduating from university. He then moved to the wilds of South America for some adventure before landing back in Frome, UK, with his wife and two children. Along the way, Migy has been imagining and developing his vibrant, magical, and bold art style. His eye-catching artwork has been featured everywhere from the Glastonbury Festival in the UK to the newsstands of Portland, Oregon. You can visit him at www.migy.com.