A sunset-colored cover beckons readers to a newly illustrated edition of the classic collection. The wraparound jacket presents a surreal dreamscape that encapsulates the transformations Kipling describes in his stories. On the back, a humpless camel and short-nosed elephant enjoy a moonlit dip, while their reflections reveal hump and trunk; on the front, a short-legged kangaroo, smooth-skinned rhino and spotless leopard likewise appear above their transformed reflections. Within, readers will find six of Kipling's tales: "How the Whale Got His Throat"; "How the Camel Got His Hump"; "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin"; "How the Leopard Got His Spots"; "The Elephant's Child"; and "The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo." Each story is illustrated with four luminous, full-color paintings, most occupying a single page in the manner of old-fashioned color plates. Also like color plates, the specific scene illustrated is indicated with a representative selection from the text. Wallace invests each scene, including the humorous ones, with poetic gravitas and refrains from anthropomorphizing his animal characters. Herons scattering above the Elephant's Child, nose clutched tight in the Crocodile's maw, indicate his very real danger; the Ethiopian solemnly marks the Leopard's coat with his fingers. An illustrator's note explains the genesis of the book and his artistic approach to each individual story. Volume 2, completing the collection, is due out in spring 2014. An elegant, timeless treatment for all those best beloved. (Short stories. 5 & up)

Afterword by Peter Glassman. Ten color plates as well as a number of black-and-white drawings appear throughout this collection of Kipling's twelve classic 'pourquoi' tales. Moser's expressive, elegant watercolors are beautifully executed but lack some of the vitality and energy of Kipling's rhythmic prose.

A sunset-colored cover beckons readers to a newly illustrated edition of the classic collection. The wraparound jacket presents a surreal dreamscape that encapsulates the transformations Kipling describes in his stories. On the back, a humpless camel and short-nosed elephant enjoy a moonlit dip, while their reflections reveal hump and trunk; on the front, a short-legged kangaroo, smooth-skinned rhino and spotless leopard likewise appear above their transformed reflections. Within, readers will find six of Kipling's tales: "How the Whale Got His Throat"; "How the Camel Got His Hump"; "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin"; "How the Leopard Got His Spots"; "The Elephant's Child"; and "The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo." Each story is illustrated with four luminous, full-color paintings, most occupying a single page in the manner of old-fashioned color plates. Also like color plates, the specific scene illustrated is indicated with a representative selection from the text. Wallace invests each scene, including the humorous ones, with poetic gravitas and refrains from anthropomorphizing his animal characters. Herons scattering above the Elephant's Child, nose clutched tight in the Crocodile's maw, indicate his very real danger; the Ethiopian solemnly marks the Leopard's coat with his fingers. An illustrator's note explains the genesis of the book and his artistic approach to each individual story. Volume 2, completing the collection, is due out in spring 2014. An elegant, timeless treatment for all those best beloved. (Short stories. 5 & up)

In the first of two planned volumes, Wallace uses a mix of watercolor, crayon, pastel, and chalk to honor the wild invention and wilder language of Kipling-s classic tales of anthropomorphic animals, adventure, and absurdity. Six stories appear-including -How the Whale Got His Throat- and -How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin--and Wallace contributes four or so full-page images for each tale. The illustrations blend playfulness with arresting imagery, providing an enticing entry point for readers. In the fiery, sunset-hued opening scene of -The Elephant-s Child,- the snub-nosed elephant -with his -satiable curiosities- gets a firm kick from his aunt Ostrich, while the camel in -How the Camel Got His Hump- is shown in skeletal profile as his impertinent -Humph!- is transformed into his trademark hump. Ages 5-up. (Sept.)

Gr 3-6 Six of Kipling's stories, including "The Beginning of the Armadillos" and "The Butterfly That Stamped" are featured in this work. Over the years, these tales have delighted young readers with their imaginative pourquoi style, beautiful language, and clever wordplay. Wallace uses mixed media (watercolor, pencil crayon, pastel pencil and chalk) to create glowing, softly colored paintings that successfully capture the essence of the tales. Each one opens with a full-page painting, followed by several others that highlight important aspects of the story. Wallace also uses his art to cleverly connect the stories and notes, e.g., "Watch for the leopard butterfly flying through all six tales, as well as other animals from the first volume&30;." He explains his conceptual ideas in a series of comprehensive notes at the end of the volume. His carefully planned and detailed illustrations masterfully complement the clever and complicated language of these best-beloved stories. The distinguished art honors each tale and engages readers with memorable imagery. The wraparound cover includes characters and artifacts from all the stories. This combination of wonderful tales and stunning art will make a fine addition to every library and help bring a classic to a new generation of young readers. Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY