“I still marvel at the inventiveness of Rudyard Kipling ... the characters come to life at the hand of Ingpen – just as my mother’s voice brought them to life when she read them to me.” Michael Morpurgo

From the moment a little naked cub wanders into the lair of Father Wolf and Mother Wolf to the moment when the master of the jungle returns to his own people, Mowgli's adventures comprise a fable of human life. Along with these stories are other animal tales. This is a magnificent new edition of the best-loved story featuring over 80 beautiful illustrations by award-winning Australian illustrator Robert Ingpen.

Simply and beautifully written, The Jungle Book remains a classic work of children’s literature. The story of Mowgli, the man-cub who is brought up by wolves in the jungles of India is one of the greatest literary myths ever created. A rich and complex fable of animal and human life, Kipling’s enduring classic dazzles the imagination with its astonishing descriptive powers and lively sense of adventure.


Originally published as part of Kipling's famous The Jungle Book, the story of Rikki Tikki Tavi, the little mongoose rescued by a family when he was half-drowned in a storm, has been an enduring favourite with young and old for more than half a century.

Rikki, of course, grows to become a family pet and repays the kindness of his rescuers by defending them from the evil cobras that lurk in their garden. Like Kipling's other magical tales from India, Rikki Tikki Tavi has inspired Robert Ingpen to achieve some of his most amazing depictions of wildlife. Rikki and the other creatures are brought to life as never before although, as Robert says 'I have tried to tread as lightly as I can with my images and hope I have left enough space for the reader to continue to make the adventure that Kipling created during his time in India.' 

This new edition of Kipling's classic story includes many new illustrations by Robert Ingpen created especially for this book.