Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

The great war between eternal foes, Mongoose and Serpent. Much like his other Jungle Book tales, Kipling adroitly straddles the fine line between beast and man to deliver a marvelous rendition of nature underscoring its beauty as well as parallel brutality.

I like the odd methodical "aside" nature of Kipling's prose. This story is: Humans and animals illustrating their nature in order for us to contrast with our own nature, to whimsical effect. Short, no decisions. Observant.

I must have read, or listened to, Rikki Tikki Tavi at some point in my life; I wonder if I had an abridged record (yes, I mean vinyl) when I was small. I wonder if I still have it. I knew the basics, but there was a lot more to it than I recalled (if I had a record when I was small, it was probably bowldlerized). I have to give Kipling credit – Rikki Tikki was cocky and self-important – but I liked him.

And the narration by Emma Lysy was a delight. I received this via Audiobookblast.com in exchange for a review. With thanks!

The Classic tale of a mongoose pitted against the cobras and welcomed among his human family for it. Set culturally and language wise in the late 1800s, and the ruling classes during the occupation of the British Empire, it may be a little 'dated' but it's a perfect short story of the animal underdog winning the day.

"Rikk-tikk-tikki-tikki-tchk!" A classic story from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, adapted and illustrated by award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney, this is the tale of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a fearless young mongoose. Soon after a flood washes Rikki into the garden of an English family, he comes face-to-face with Nag and Nagaina, two giant cobras. The snakes are willing to attack Rikki, and even the human family who lives there, to claim the garden and house for themselves. But they do not count on the heart and pride of the brave little mongoose.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a mongoose, lives with a small family in India. He finds out that two cobras, Nag and his wife Nagaina, are planning to kill the two adults and their young son Teddy. The clever mongoose decides to protect them and to take on the dangerous snakes. I first got to know this story through the 1970s animated movie and I fell in love with the brave animal. The book is even better.

I've love the story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi since I was a little boy and this Rudyard Kipling story is complimented by beautiful artwork by Jerry Pinkney who does an excellent job of bringing to life the characters. the story follows Rikki a mongoose as he is taken in by a family and how he protects the little boy from snakes that are trying to kill him.