The graceful prose and pungent humor of these 12 tall tales place them in the same league with such children's classics as Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland. Kipling's verbal dexterity remains audible over time--even the openings of his fantastic fictions hark to a golden age of storytelling. Frampton's elegant, elaborately detailed woodcuts are attractive embellishments to this hefty 122-page collection.

Contents Include:

• How the Whale Got His Throat 
• How the Camel Got His Hump 
• How the Rhinocerous Got His Skin 
• How the Leopard Got His Spots 
• The Elephant's Child 
• The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo 
• The Beginning of the Armadilloes 
• How the Fist Letter was Written 
• How the Alphabet was Made 
• The Crab that Played with the Sea 
• The Cat that Walked by Himself 
• The Butterfly that Stamped