The Second Jungle Book facts for kids
The original cover of The Second Jungle Book. It shows the white cobra from "The King's Ankus" and Mowgli with Kaa.
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| Author | Rudyard Kipling |
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| Illustrator | John Lockwood Kipling (Rudyard's father) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Jungle Books |
| Genre | Children's book |
| Publisher | Macmillan Publishers |
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Publication date
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November 1895 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Jungle Book |
The Second Jungle Book is a famous book written by Rudyard Kipling. It came out in 1895. This book is a follow-up to his first book, The Jungle Book.
It has eight exciting stories. Five of these stories are about Mowgli, the boy raised by wolves. Most of the stories take place in India. Kipling wrote many of them while he was living in Vermont. Before the book was published, all the stories first appeared in magazines between 1894 and 1895. Sometimes, they had different names. The 1994 movie The Jungle Book used parts of this book for its story.
Contents
Stories in The Second Jungle Book
Each story in the book is followed by a related poem.
How Fear Came
This story happens before Mowgli faces Shere Khan, the tiger. During a very dry time, Mowgli and the animals gather at the Wainganga River. The river has shrunk, and there is a "Water Truce." This means no one hunts near the riverbanks. A special blue "Peace Rock" shows where the truce is. After Shere Khan tries to break the truce, Hathi the elephant tells Mowgli a story. He explains how the first tiger got its stripes and how fear came to the jungle.
The Law of the Jungle (Poem)
The Miracle of Purun Bhagat
This story is about an important Indian leader. He decides to give up his wealthy life to become a simple, holy man. He lives in the mountains and becomes friends with the local animals. Later, he uses their help to save a village from a dangerous landslide.
A Song of Kabir (Poem)
Letting in the Jungle
Mowgli has been forced out of the human village. The villagers think he uses magic and plan to harm his adopted parents, Messua and her husband. Mowgli saves them. Then, he plans to get back at the villagers for what they did.
Mowgli's Song Against People (Poem)
The Undertakers
This story features three unpleasant characters who live by the river: a mugger crocodile, a jackal, and a large stork. They spend an afternoon arguing. Then, some Englishmen arrive to deal with the crocodile.
A Ripple Song (Poem)
The King's Ankus
Mowgli finds a valuable object covered in jewels under the Cold Lairs. He doesn't realize how precious it is and leaves it carelessly. Men later kill each other to get it. Mowgli then returns the treasure to its hiding place to stop more fighting.
The Song of the Little Hunter (Poem)
Quiquern
This story is set in the arctic. A teenage Inuit boy and girl go out onto the ice to find food. They need to save their tribe from starving. They are guided by a mysterious animal spirit called Quiquern. But Quiquern is not what it seems.
Angutivaun Taina (Poem)
Red Dog
Mowgli's wolf pack is in danger from a group of wild dholes, also known as Red Dogs. Mowgli asks Kaa the python to help him make a plan to defeat them.
Chil's Song (Poem)
The Spring Running
Mowgli is almost seventeen years old. He feels restless and doesn't know why. While running through the jungle, he finds the village where his adopted mother, Messua, lives with her young son. Mowgli feels torn between staying with her and returning to his jungle home.
The Outsong (Poem)
Main Characters
- Mowgli – A young boy from India who was raised by wolves.
- Father Wolf – An Indian wolf and Raksha's partner.
- Raksha – An Indian wolf who is Mowgli's adoptive mother.
- Mang – A bat.
- Bagheera – A black panther who found baby Mowgli and brought him to the wolves.
- Baloo – A bear who teaches Mowgli the Law of the Jungle.
- Kaa – An Indian python and a wise friend to Mowgli.
- Tabaqui – A golden jackal who often causes trouble.
- Akela – The leader of the wolf pack.
- Jacala – A mugger crocodile.
- The Red Dogs – A pack of wild dholes.
- Ikki – An Indian crested porcupine.
- Hathi – An Indian elephant who is very old and wise.
- Grey Brother – One of Father and Mother Wolf's cubs.
- Ko – A carrion crow.
Other Books and Movies
- The Third Jungle Book (1992): This book by Pamela Jekel has new stories about Mowgli. They are written in a style similar to Kipling's.
- The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo (1997): This is a movie starring Jamie Williams as Mowgli. However, the movie's story is very different from the stories in Rudyard Kipling's original The Second Jungle Book.
