All that being said, as my children grow older I find myself more and more often feeling the need to explain that it is in fact God who created the world, gave the elephant his long nose, the leopard his spots, and mankind with the gift of the requisite intelligence to create the written word. I’ve begun to wince through Kipling’s elaborately composed narratives while throwing in my own commentary throughout each reading. It would seem that it might be time for our family to leave behind fanciful wonder stories and explanations in favor of the truth.
Still, there is a delightful, imaginary world that Kipling wove for his own small daughter to be explored for those with the wherewithal to do so. Those that venture into Kipling’s mythical landscape will now have the accompaniment of a gifted guide in Reiner. With his voice at the helm a jaunty voyage is sure to be had by all – his infectious joy is hard to resist.
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