Disney's The Jungle Book
on Goodreads (1,461)
What’s inside...
A picture book with appeal that has stood the test of time, featuring the antics of Mowgli, Baloo, Bageera and King Louie, the wiliest, hippest monkey of them all.
Why read this book
- Engaging, adventurous narrative promotes imaginative thinking.
- Characters teach resilience, friendship, and courage.
- Encourages language development and vocabulary expansion.
- A bonding experience for parents and children reading together.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Mowgli feels about growing up with animals in the jungle?
What qualities do you admire in Baloo and Bagheera, and why?
If you were in the jungle, what kind of animal friend would you want to have?
How do you think the story would change if Mowgli had chosen to live in the village from the beginning?
What lessons can we learn about friendship and trust from Mowgli's adventures?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive voices for different characters while reading to make the story more immersive.
After reading a chapter, pause and ask your child how they might feel in Mowgli's situations, fostering empathy and deeper understanding.
Encourage your child to draw their favorite scene or character from the book. Discuss the drawing, focusing on why they chose that particular scene or character.
Relate the book's themes to real-life situations your child might encounter, such as making new friends or trying new things.
Ask your child to predict what might happen next at various points in the story to enhance their analytical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of friendship and trust
Explanation: Throughout 'The Jungle Book,' Mowgli builds relationships with various jungle creatures who guide and protect him, demonstrating the power of friendship and trust.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to value and trust their friends and understand the importance of teamwork and cooperation in daily life.
Example Lesson: Understanding and embracing differences
Explanation: Mowgli, a human child, is raised by wolves and interacts with animals of all species, which teaches him about accepting and celebrating differences.
Real-World Application: This story encourages children to appreciate diversity among people in their community and to be open to learning from others who may not look or act like them.
Example Lesson: Courage and perseverance
Explanation: Mowgli faces various challenges in the jungle, including the menacing Shere Khan, but he continually demonstrates bravery and the will to keep going.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to face their fears, tackle challenges, and persist through difficulties, understanding that courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: Mowgli makes mistakes as he navigates through the jungle, but he learns from them, which helps in his growth and survival.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children that making mistakes is a part of learning and growing up. It’s important to learn from them in order to make better choices in the future.