Just So Stories

By: Rudyard Kipling

Narrated by: Carl Reiner

Tales like "How the Leopard Got His Spots" and "How the Camel Got His Hump" answer questions only children would ask and answers them in a way only children would believe. Rudyard Kipling very much intended Just So Stories to be read aloud — and no one does it better than Carl Reiner, who brings each original story to life. A superbly amusing and entertaining experience, Kipling's Just So Stories is a children's literature classic that will delight both young and old alike. Stories in this collection are:

"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"
"The Sing Song of Old Man Kangaroo"
"How the First Letter Was Written"
"The Crab That Played with the Sea"
"The Cat That Walked by Himself"
"The Butterfly That Stamped"

Public Domain (P)2009 Phoenix Books, Inc.

Delighful - Beautifully Read

I didn't know much about about Kipling other than he wrote Jungle Book. I saw the Disney movie. Kipling has been out of fashion for a while being old school British as all, so I was curious and took the chance. I love his playful choice of words. Reiner is the perfect voice for these wonderful, funny stories. This was my first audible, but not my last.

Not easy to follow

While these stories are classic, I found that they were not so easy for my children (5 & 8) to follow in Audible format. There are a lot of unfamiliar words, and many of the stories would be better with illustrations. This is the one book that should be read and not just listened to.

Enchanting tales ruined by breakneck performance

Carl Reiner is a comedy genius. Full stop. Which makes his performance here all the more baffling. For someone with such impeccable timing, his choice to rush through the text is difficult to understand. Neither of my children could keep up with his narration and we ultimately abandoned the audiobook. I hoped his reading would feel like you were listening to a grandparent spinning magical tales. Instead, it felt like grandpa would rather be golfing and couldn't wait to turn the last page. I still believe Kipling and Reiner could be a delightful pairing, but sadly, this isn't it.

Horrible Performance

Just So Stories is an amazing book. My parents read it to me, and I read it to my kids. I've always liked Carl Reiner, so I picked this version. The reading is AWFUL!!! First issue: one might think Reiner was on a clock. He races through the stories so fast it's sometimes hard to follow. And, Just So Stories are best read slowly, with rhythm.

Second issue: Reiner does not correctly read the story. As an example, in the reading of The Elephant's Child, Kipling, when referring to the Limpopo River, repeats the phrase "great grey green greasy Limpopo RIver, all set about with fever trees". It is sing-songy, and the alliteration is great for a child. Reiner never reads it the same way twice, rushing through, leaving out words, and adding the word grassy on occasion. I can't believe some editor didn't correct this. It is HORRIBLE!

I've had Audible books I didn't like. I have many I've not finished. But, I never felt ripped-off before. I want my money back!!! The reading is AWFUL!!!