Just So Stories (version 2)


Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)

(4.8 stars; 143 reviews)

The stories, first published in 1902, are fantastic accounts of how various natural phenomena came about. The original editions of Just So Stories were illustrated with woodcuts by Kipling himself. Read along online and see the illustrations at mainlesson.com. Each story is accompanied by a poem, in a somewhat ballad style. Many of the stories are addressed to "Best Beloved" (they were first written for Kipling's eldest daughter, Josephine, who had died during an outbreak of influenza in 1899), and throughout they use a comically elevated style inspired by the formal speech of India, full of long and improbable-sounding words, some of them made up. As a result, it is a delight to read them aloud, and easy to memorise passages from them. (Summary from Wikipedia) (3 hr 12 min)

Chapters

How the Whale Got His Throat 7:17 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
How the Camel Got His Hump 7:10 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin 5:53 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
How the Leopard Got His Spots 14:06 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
The Elephant's Child 17:03 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo 8:22 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
The Beginning of the Armadillos 17:06 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
How the First Letter was Written 21:44 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
How the Alphabet was Made 25:01 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
The Crab that Played with the Sea 21:16 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
The Cat who Walked by Himself 24:46 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
The Butterfly that Stamped 22:31 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)

Reviews


(4.5 stars)

Amusing little fables about how animals became. Reader did an amazing job, especially since there were parts of great rhyme and tongue twisters.

Pause worthy


(5 stars)

The stories themselves are great! Though be prepared for Kipling's imperialist ideas of other peoples creeping in to a story or two. Special praise goes to the reader for her involved rendition.

Well written, so easy to hear.


(5 stars)

When I 1st started listening to Librivox I believed that Chip was the best reader. Then I discovered Kayray. I didn't know what paradise was until I heard your voice! There's so many other great voices & yet yours has an edge to it that I can't describe. Each word carries on into the next one so well, it just makes you the Queen of Audio. If l had 1 wish it would be for your immortality Miss Shallenberg. I do more than bow...I salute you. 👸✌

Kara is the best!!!


(5 stars)

the just so stories are the best! that kept my daughter's entertained the whole very very long drive. we listened to them again and again I love the way she reads as well she reads with such character that you get such a picture of what the character's look like. Kara is the my favorite reader.


(5 stars)

read by one of the bestest readers, Kara Shallenberg, this is a great book for road trips or quiet time. warning, the Leopard/Spots book uses the N-word. (but they did back then),

Rudyard Kipling at his finest and silliest


(5 stars)

a few archaic and now very offensive words, but beautifully and unflinchingly read by Kara Shallenberg (sp?)

lovely


(5 stars)

very nice little story's to listen when your board but if you don't like fiction books you won't like this one at all!!👍👍


(4 stars)

Well done. My 9 & 10 boys loved it