Necessarily vastly abridged to maintain the publisher's page count, and without referencing Kipling's idiom, this graphic novelization nonetheless offers readers a rich retelling. Pages pop with nicely varied frames that befit their content, and characters' speech and captions are appropriately assigned rather than being seemingly random text attributions. The deeply and broodingly colored images, however, are what make this a good read, with animal-appropriate movement, expressive faces, and animated body language. While certainly no substitute for Kipling's own storytelling prowess, this is, nonetheless, a worthwhile version to provide for visual learners, whether as a lead-in to the original or as a stand-alone experience. The tight binding may frustrate some but the book won't wear out.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2009 Booklist

An attractive reissue of a classic children's book has attractive illustrations reflecting traditional Indian art. But typographical errors are common, and, although the fact is unmentioned, the text has been slightly abridged. From HORN BOOK 1991, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 3-6-- With over 20 editions in print, what would justify publishing, or purchasing, another Jungle Book ? The answer is clearly Alexander's splendid and technically ravishing watercolor illustrations. Their stylized borders and overall background patterns recall--without slavishly imitating--Indian textiles and Indian book illustrations. The stunningly vibrant hues (especially the hot pinks, oranges, and electric blues) allude to the traditional colors of India but appeal to contemporary tastes for high-voltage tints. The details are evocative but spare (their scale makes the human figures unintelligible at a distance, but the many animal portraits maintain their effect across a room). With the recent reappearance of the Disney version in video and cartoon knockoffs, this edition's fine graphic vision is doubly welcome. In these numerous vignettes per double-page depictions, India is again the rich and exotic country of Kipling's romantic creation. --Patricia Dooley, University of Washington, Seattle (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.