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chuskeyreads's review against another edition
5.0
I'd heard two of the stories before as a little girl, but I'd forgotten how funny they were. I have to say that my favorite is the story about how the elephant got his nose.
loont's review against another edition
5.0
One of my absolute favorite books as a kid, and then a book my littler brother liked, and then my littler sister, and then my cousins my sisters age. A classic collection of cleverly silly and imaginative stories for any kid.
andalicesays's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
missbookiverse's review against another edition
3.0
Just So Stories is a collection of rather funny stories that explain how certain things in the world happened: how the alphabet was made up, how the armadillo came into existence, how the elephant got its trunk, how the wild dog became the pet dog we know today and more.
Reading those stories was sometimes a little difficult because of the old language but as Mister Kipling had made up those stories for his children the tales were rather simple and easy to understand, especially with all the repetition.
Mister Kipling added poems and pictures and descriptions of those pictures to every single story. The poems were a little unnecessary as they mostly retold the story in verses but still funny while the drawings turned out to be hilarious in connection with their very detailed written description.
The stories themselves are cute, creative and funny. If you like animals and are up for some silly stuff, this is your perfect in-between read.
Something that confused me was a swastika in one of the drawings. I doubt that it is supposed to have a racist meaning (especially considering the time the book was written in) but being from Germany I always look at those signs with 2 very suspicious eyes.
One thing I have to complain about is the Wordsworth Edition I have of this book. It looks quite cheaply put together which would be okay if there weren't so many typos throughout the book, it became quite annoying.
Reading those stories was sometimes a little difficult because of the old language but as Mister Kipling had made up those stories for his children the tales were rather simple and easy to understand, especially with all the repetition.
Mister Kipling added poems and pictures and descriptions of those pictures to every single story. The poems were a little unnecessary as they mostly retold the story in verses but still funny while the drawings turned out to be hilarious in connection with their very detailed written description.
The stories themselves are cute, creative and funny. If you like animals and are up for some silly stuff, this is your perfect in-between read.
Something that confused me was a swastika in one of the drawings. I doubt that it is supposed to have a racist meaning (especially considering the time the book was written in) but being from Germany I always look at those signs with 2 very suspicious eyes.
One thing I have to complain about is the Wordsworth Edition I have of this book. It looks quite cheaply put together which would be okay if there weren't so many typos throughout the book, it became quite annoying.
tabindatouseef's review against another edition
2.0
I wish I read this when I was 5 but alas I am 25 and unimpressed.
apochemu's review against another edition
3.0
He's a great writer and most of the stories were fun and whimsical. It definitely dragged out though with the last several stories. The illustrations in this edition were a nice added touch.
littleroseygirl's review against another edition
4.0
Cute, funny stories that are perfect for bedtime.
24marsha's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't read them all but the "pourqouis" stories are really fun. Stories about animals that explain why certain things are the way they are. Loved the Elephant Child.