This book contains the following story:
"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.
