KIPLING, Rudyard . How the Leopard Got His Spots: The Graphic Novel . ISBN 978-1-4342-3223-6 ; ISBN 978-1-4342-3881-8 . ea vol: retold by Louise Simonson. illus. by Pedro Rodriguez. 40p. (Graphic Spin: Rudyard Kipling Stories Series). glossary. Stone Arch . 2012. PLB $22.65; pap. $4.95. Gr 2-5 These adaptations are divided into categories to look like research logs. "Research" features a brief profile of the camel or the leopard, its habitat, and natural prey or nearby animals. "Kipling's Observation" is a highly abridged version of the "Just So" story, supplemented by cartoon bubbles that extend the action and add humor. The ending poem in each story appears in full, followed by a more extended profile of the character. A "Learn More" segment features terms, discussion questions, and opportunities for further exploration. The final section profiles Kipling and the author and illustrator. Overall, fans of Kipling won't find much of his original story here, but the power of the graphic novel to move readers into further exploration of an author's work could rectify that. The over-the-top depictions of wide-eyed animals with exaggerated expressions will please fans of the film Madagascar or Disney's Aladdin , &4; la Dinn. The log format does little to add to the books' appeal but discussion questions and further research opportunities are always welcome. C. J. Connor, Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring, KY

The defining characteristics of Kipling's celebrated "Just So Stories" are their delicious language and tongue-in-cheek observations about human foibles (often cloaked in animal skins). Here, Kipling's prose has been eviscerated to fit the graphic-novel format. Many other illustrated versions of these stories are readily available and would be better additions to collections.