Member Reviews

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book! The title and this beautiful cover drew me in and i was excited to read this book! I will be recommending this book to others for readers advisory

Was this review helpful?

There is something a bit jarring about seeing a classic story like this in a Manga format, but it's also a wonderful way to connect this story to reluctant readers, or just people who want to read it the story with a fun new visual element to it. I can't be mad at something that gets kids reading.

Was this review helpful?

I am a big fan of reading classics and graphic novels so I was excited to check this out. I think that this series will make classics more accessible for some and I love that! The illustrations and story were nice!

Was this review helpful?

Just like the original book/movie only better because it was a graphic novel! I enjoyed reading a bunch of these older classic stories but in the form of a graphic novel/anime.

Was this review helpful?

I love the art in the entire volume but I was particularly pleased with the retelling of Rikki Tikki Tavi and the White Seal because they are lesser known stories and ones I have loved since childhood. Another wonderful book to draw in new interest to the classics.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy. I was not aware that this is a graphic novel. The illustrations are very detailed interesting, but I hope that the final copy is in color (perhaps the ARC copy is just black-and-white only). As every remake, the storyline is a little different from the classic, and I wouldn't use it in the classroom anyway. This would be good for boys who like graphic novels.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this manga adaptation of the Jungle book by Rudyard Kipling. Although I was familiar with most of the stories, this adaptation opened my eyes to see it in a different way.

I love the emotions expressed through the intricate and detailed drawing. However at times, it was hard to guess certain landmarks and turns that the stories took. When I began a few stories for example, The white seal, at first I expected to be bored. But as the story gained momentum, I grew excited and wanted to know what would happen in the end. The poems interspersed with each story are simple and eady to understand. Being not of a poet lover myself, I certainly liked a few of the poems.

I really wished there would be colored cartoons and regret that manga is in black and white. The color aspects depicted on the cover pages look very attractive.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoy classics being brought to the attention of a younger generation. I can appreciate when art, be it manga or comic is used to capture the attention of those who would, generally, not be interested in classic literature. I, myself, am a bit of a book enthusiast but sometimes find myself disinterested in reading something older than my grandparents. So thank you NetGalley, for the opportunity to try this book out!

The book stays fairly close to the original source material (obviously it won't be 100 percent authentic). But the real star of the show is the art- it's clean and holds your attention.

I would recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

I have never read the original The Jungle Book novel, however I have watched the Disney cartoon and live action films (which are always different than the original). This manga included The Jungle Book, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (which I have read), Toomai of the Elephants, and The White Seal. The Jungle Book is the story of Mowgli, a human child who was found and raised by wolves. He goes on to defeat his enemy the tiger. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the story of a mongoose who saves the family who rescued him from cobras. Toomai of the Elephants is the story of a young elephant handler. The White Seal is a tale about a rare white seal who seeks to find a safe island for his kind.

Was this review helpful?

This was an okay read. A great refresher for those who have read the book or seen the movie. Not too big on the art style.

Was this review helpful?

I have read the Jungle Book before and related stories done by Kipling, so getting a chance to read this manga version of it was a treat. The dialogue kept with the tone Kipling intended but also made it so it wasn't so difficult for older children/young teens to enjoy. Having physical pictures to go with the imagery I've made while reading the original pictureless stories was quite nice. The art style was unique and suited this story of a 'man-cub' and his jungle friends/enemies as they go about their business in the world. Definitely would love to see more manga versions of these classic books done. Udon knows their stuff!

Was this review helpful?

I have the same feeling about all these classics transformed into Manga. The artwork is beautiful even if different and the stories are this fully told even though it is different. The Jungle Book was my favourite as a kid and this was enjoyable !

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of The Jungle Book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this version of The Jungle Book! I simply really enjoyed it and thought it was very clever how it was done. I think this will open up the book to a whole new group of readers, especially children who love graphic novels and mangas, which will be fantastic as this story deserves to be continually told.

The manga was a lot of fun and even though it took a little while to get used to the reading style, once I did, it was a lot of fun and allowed me to breeze through it quite fast.

Was this review helpful?

Turns out I just don't like manga. Maybe the translation's not good enough but I also just don't like the art style in general. Even when it's something I'm familiar with. It's too bad because I've heard so many good things about so many manga.

Was this review helpful?

Well this was my first ever manga and also my first ever experience of The Jungle Book in book format... and not the Disney version! Growing up with the film adaptation, I thought I knew the story but this version gave me so much more information and back story than I knew about! One of my favourite things about this book was the animal characters. I love how this story is essentially about belonging and family, about what it actually means to be wild. The illustrations in this version were great, especially the animals (SheerKhan and Bageera are amazing!) but I felt that it was a little too simplistic in places. I much prefer detailed and bright illustrations so this wasn't my favourite. But I loved immersing myself in such a beloved story, in a different format and find out things I never knew of and delving deeper into the story. It was definitely an experience and I'm glad I branched out and read a manga!

Was this review helpful?

The Jungle Book was such a staple story of my childhood, especially the Disney movie. And this rendition of it absolutely did the story justice. The animals and the jungle landscape were stunning to look at. The relationships that are built and the action that happens throughout the story was beautiful to see come to life. I felt every emotion that the main characters were feeling and I love it. I would recommend this to anyone.

Was this review helpful?

For those of us who only know “The Jungle Book” from the Disney film(s), prepare to be surprised.

Rudyard Kipling originally wrote his short stories about life in British India for magazines in the late 1800s. The first seven were collected into what became “The Jungle Book”, originally published in 1894. In addition to three stories about Mowgli, the boy raised by animals in the jungle, we also have Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, The White Seal, Toomai of the Elephants, and finally the British army pack animals.

This manga edition follows the stories quite faithfully, even including the poems/songs found in each story. The drawings are simple yet convey all of the emotion present in the text. As with any collection of short stories, even a classic such as this, the quality from one to another varies, and some of our perceptions are (unfortunately) colored by Disney et al – I distinctly remember watching a Rikki-Tikki-Tavi cartoon when I was a kid. One also wonders how a story about arctic seals ended up in a jungle book, but it is what it is – a fine and interesting way to introduce a classic of western literature to a new audience.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Udon Entertainment / Manga Classics via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

A very enjoyable take on a classic children book! As Jungle Book is up there are one of my all-time favourite classics, I had a higher than normal expectations, I was not disappointed at all. I thoroughly enjoyed the art style, as I can confidently say shows through all the other classics they have produced too! I would definitely recommend to those who have read and know the original very well. I would also recommend to read through other classics re-imaginations too. Thank you to Udon Entertainment for letting me enjoy this and all of their other works.

Was this review helpful?

Manga and graphic novel readers and kidlit fans will enjoy reading this dynamic version of The Jungle Book. Grown-ups and kids alike will enjoy going on this reading adventure.

Was this review helpful?

The story itself would have gotten 2 stars, I didn't like it very much, but Crystal S. Chan can't be blamed for that. She only adapted the story into the manga format. I gave it 3 stars because I found the overall product to be middle of the road. I don't think the Jungle Book works very well in this format. I was pretty wordy, I didn't like the dialogues and the stories felt messy. The art wasn't bad but it didn't blow my socks off either, it was meh. Out of all 5 manga classics I read thus far, I liked this one the least.

Was this review helpful?