This book contains the following stories:
"How the Camel Got His Hump" is a short story by Rudyard Kipling, part of his collection of children's stories known as "Just So Stories," published in 1902. This whimsical tale explains how the camel acquired its distinctive hump. Here's a plot summary:
Setting: The story is set in a time long ago when all animals could speak and had different physical attributes.
Plot:
The Lazy Camel: In the early days, the camel was a very lazy and idle creature. While all the other animals were working hard, the camel would refuse to do any work and would simply say, "Humph!" when asked to contribute.
The Animals' Complaint: The other animals grew tired of the camel's laziness and decided to take the matter to the Djinn, a supernatural being who could grant wishes. They complained to the Djinn about the camel's refusal to work and asked for a solution.
The Djinn's Decision: The Djinn summoned the camel and asked him why he was so lazy. The camel replied that he had no desire to work and preferred to be idle. The Djinn decided to teach the camel a lesson and granted him a hump to carry on his back.
The Camel's Transformation: As soon as the camel received his hump, he found it to be heavy and burdensome. The Djinn explained that the hump was designed to store water and food, allowing the camel to go for long periods without eating or drinking while working. However, the camel still had to carry the weight of the hump.
Learning the Value of Work: The camel quickly realized the benefits of having a hump, as it enabled him to endure long journeys across the desert without stopping for sustenance. He learned that work had its rewards and became a diligent and hardworking creature, no longer saying "Humph!" to work.
The Moral of the Story: The Djinn's lesson taught the camel the value of work and transformed him from a lazy creature into one of the hardest workers in the animal kingdom. The other animals appreciated the change, and the camel became a useful and respected member of the animal community.
The story of "How the Camel Got His Hump" is a playful and imaginative explanation of a distinctive feature of the camel's anatomy. It also carries a moral lesson about the importance of work and responsibility, illustrating how challenges and responsibilities can transform a lazy individual into a productive and valued member of society.
The Cat That Walked by Himself
"The Cat That Walked by Himself" is another charming story from Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories" collection, published in 1902. This story explains how the cat, unlike other domesticated animals, retained its independence and walked by itself. Here's a plot summary:
Setting: The story is set in prehistoric times when all animals, including humans, spoke the same language.
Plot:
The Beginning of Things: In the days of High and Far-Off Times, when all animals and humans lived together, the Cat was the wildest of all. While other animals learned to be tame and serve humans, the Cat refused to do so.
The Cat and the Woman: The Woman tried to tame the Cat and make it obedient, but the Cat insisted on its independence. The Cat told the Woman that it would stay only until wild times returned.
The Cat's Deal with the Man: The Cat, however, did make a deal with the Man. It agreed to live near the Man's cave, keep it clean, and chase away rats and mice in exchange for the warmth and safety of the cave at night.
The Dog and the Horse's Submission: The story contrasts the Cat's independence with the obedience of the Dog and the Horse, both of whom submitted to human dominance. The Dog and the Horse became Man's loyal servants, while the Cat remained her own.
The Cat's Trick: One day, the Man and the Woman went hunting, leaving the Baby alone in the cave. The Cat tried to persuade the Baby to play with her, but the Baby wanted the warmth and protection of the cave's fire. So, the Cat climbed up to the rafters, swished her tail across the fire, and brought fire to the Baby, teaching it how to tame and use it.
The Cat's Final Warning: The Woman was upset with the Cat when she returned and found the Baby playing with fire. The Cat warned her that she could never tame the Cat completely and that the Cat would always be a little wild.
The Cat That Walked by Himself: True to its nature, the Cat walked away from the cave at night, keeping its independence and wild spirit. It wandered through the world, and even today, cats retain their independence and the ability to walk by themselves.
This story celebrates the independent and somewhat mysterious nature of cats, explaining why they are different from other domesticated animals. It's a whimsical and imaginative tale that offers a humorous explanation for the unique character of the feline species.
How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin
"How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" is a humorous and imaginative short story by Rudyard Kipling, part of his collection of children's stories known as "Just So Stories," first published in 1902. The story explains how the rhinoceros developed its thick, wrinkled skin. Here's a plot summary:
Setting: The story is set in Africa, where the animals can talk and interact with one another.
Plot:
The Rhinoceros' Smooth Skin: Once upon a time, the rhinoceros had smooth, tight-fitting skin that suited him well. He was proud of his smooth skin and thought it made him look sleek and smart.
The Parsee Man and His Cooking: In the same jungle, there lived a Parsee man who loved to cook. One day, the Parsee man ventured into the jungle with his cooking pots and pans to prepare a meal. He chose a spot near the banks of the Limpopo River.
The Rhinoceros Visits the Parsee Man: The rhinoceros, curious about the Parsee man's activities, approached him and asked what he was doing. The Parsee man explained that he was cooking, but he warned the rhinoceros not to disturb him while he was cooking, as it could lead to dire consequences.
The Rhinoceros' Curiosity: The rhinoceros couldn't resist his curiosity and kept bothering the Parsee man by asking questions and poking his nose into the cooking pots. This angered the Parsee man, who threatened to rub the rhinoceros with the black bottom of the cooking pan if he didn't stop.
The Consequences: Ignoring the Parsee man's warning, the rhinoceros continued to pester him. True to his word, the Parsee man took the cooking pan and rubbed the rhinoceros hard on the nose with the black bottom. The rubbing caused the rhinoceros's skin to become wrinkled, and it stuck to him like a crumpled, ill-fitting waistcoat.
The Rhinoceros' Embarrassment: The rhinoceros was embarrassed by his wrinkled skin, which was no longer smooth and sleek. He hid in the jungle, away from the other animals, to avoid their laughter and ridicule.
The Moral of the Story: The story ends with Kipling explaining to the reader that the rhinoceros still carries his wrinkled skin to this day as a consequence of his curiosity and disobedience.
This humorous and fanciful story teaches a moral lesson about the consequences of not listening to warnings and the importance of respecting others' boundaries. It's one of the many delightful "Just So Stories" by Rudyard Kipling, which are known for their whimsical explanations of how animals acquired their distinctive traits.
"The Elephant's Child" is a short story by Rudyard Kipling, part of his collection "Just So Stories," published in 1902. This story offers an imaginative explanation for why elephants have long trunks. Here's a plot summary of "The Elephant's Child":
The story begins by introducing a young elephant who is curious about everything around him. He is known as "the Elephant's Child" because he is the youngest elephant in the herd. The Elephant's Child is particularly fascinated by the crocodile, with its scaly skin and sharp teeth.
One day, the Elephant's Child decides to approach the crocodile and ask it a question: "What does the crocodile have for dinner?" The crocodile replies that he eats "unwary, large, fat, slow-moving animals," which makes the Elephant's Child nervous.
The Elephant's Child becomes increasingly curious and persistent, asking more questions to various animals in the jungle, including the Kolokolo Bird and the Parsee, a man who lives on a boat. He asks about the crocodile's appetite and why his relatives have wrinkled and short trunks, unlike his own long, straight one.
In his quest for answers, the Elephant's Child embarks on a journey, encountering different animals along the way, each of whom imparts some wisdom. He even receives spankings from his family for asking too many questions.
Finally, the Elephant's Child meets the Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake, who tells him that his long, straight trunk is the result of stretching it out while he investigated the world and asked questions. The snake advises the Elephant's Child to continue being curious and learning about the world.
The Elephant's Child follows the snake's advice and uses his long trunk to great advantage. He can now reach food from high branches and defend himself from predators, including the crocodile.
The story ends with the Elephant's Child becoming wise and successful, thanks to his insatiable curiosity and his long trunk, which has become an essential and distinctive feature of all elephants.
"The Elephant's Child" is a whimsical and humorous tale that encourages curiosity and exploration. It offers an imaginative explanation for the unique feature of elephants' trunks while celebrating the value of asking questions and seeking knowledge.
