Just So Stories
by Rudyard Kipling (1902)
12 chapters · 12 chapter quizzes · 86 vocabulary words
📖 Read the full book onlineOpen the Interactive Guide →About This Book
"Just So Stories" is a collection of twelve short, funny tales that pretend to explain how things in our world first came to be. How did the camel get his hump? How did the leopard get his spots? How did the very first letter ever get written? Rudyard Kipling answers all of these questions with playful, made-up stories that were never meant to be true science, but are wonderful fun to read. Kipling first told these tales out loud to his own children at bedtime, and he told them in exactly the same words every single time. His children liked them told "just so," with nothing changed, and that is how the book got its name. Because of this, the stories are full of silly repeated phrases, funny names, and words that are fun to say out loud. Each story stands on its own, so you can read them in any order you like. Along the way you will meet clever animals, a curious little elephant, a proud wandering cat, and a cave-girl named Taffy who lived long before people knew how to read or write. Get ready for a world where anything can happen and every animal has a story to tell.
This book is perfect for young readers because each story is short, funny, and full of rhythm and repeated phrases that are a joy to read aloud. The tales spark curiosity by asking playful "how" and "why" questions about the world, which is exactly the kind of wondering that second graders do naturally. Reading these stories helps children enjoy rich, musical language, predict what might happen next, and think about cause and effect in a lighthearted way.
Pre-Reading Discussion Questions
- Have you ever wondered why an animal looks the way it does, like why a giraffe has such a long neck?
- If you could make up a story to explain how the zebra got its stripes, what would happen in it?
- What is your favorite bedtime story, and do you like it told the same way every time?
- What do you think the world was like long, long ago, before people could read or write?
- Which animals do you think are the cleverest, and why?
- What does it mean when a story is 'make-believe' instead of 'true'?
Themes & Big Ideas to Track
- Cause and effect: watch how one small action in each story leads to a big change.
- Curiosity: notice how asking questions and wanting to learn drives many of the characters.
- Cleverness: see how animals and people use smart ideas to solve their problems.
- The power of language: pay attention to the funny, repeated phrases and playful words Kipling uses.
- Consequences: think about how a character's choices, good or bad, lead to what happens to them.
- Imagination: remember these are make-believe explanations meant for fun, not real facts about nature.
Chapter-by-Chapter Study Guide
Chapter 1: How the Whale Got His Throat
Before you read — think about:
- The title asks how the whale got his throat. What do you already know about what whales can and cannot eat?
- If you were floating on the sea after a shipwreck, what clever things might you do to stay safe?
- Why do you think a big animal might listen to advice from a very small animal?
- What does it mean to call a person or animal 'clever'? Can you think of a time being clever helped you?
- This is a make-believe story. What is the difference between a story that explains something for fun and a true science fact?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice which sea creature is small but the smartest of all.
- Watch for the special way the story describes how clever and resourceful the sailor is.
- Pay attention to what the sailor does with his raft and his suspenders.
- Look for the funny, repeated phrases the author uses when he talks to the reader.
- Watch for the reason the story gives for why whales today only eat tiny fish.
Vocabulary to know:
Mariner (noun) — a sailor; a person who travels and works on the sea in a ship; sagacity (noun) — great cleverness and good sense; being very wise about how to solve problems; 'Stute (adjective) — the author's playful, short way of saying 'astute,' which means quick, sharp, and clever; grating (noun) — a criss-cross set of bars, like a little gate, that lets water through but blocks big things; suspenders (noun) — straps worn over the shoulders to hold up a person's trousers; raft (noun) — a flat floating platform, often made of pieces of wood tied together; shipwrecked (adjective) — left stranded at sea after a ship has been wrecked or destroyed; Equator (noun) — an imaginary line that runs around the middle of the Earth; in the story it is drawn like a funny mark on the map.
Chapter 2: How the Camel Got His Hump
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about camels? What is the bump on a camel's back called?
- Have you ever not wanted to do a chore? What did you say or do?
- What might happen if one member of a team refuses to help with the work?
- What do you think a 'desert' is like? How would it feel to live there?
- If a magical creature could grant wishes or give punishments, what rules do you think it might follow?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice the one word the Camel keeps saying instead of helping.
- Watch for the three hard-working animals who come to complain.
- Look for the magical desert spirit who has the power to change things.
- Pay attention to how the Camel's rude word turns into something he must carry forever.
- Watch for why the Camel still has extra work to catch up on today.
Vocabulary to know:
Djinn (noun) — a magical spirit or genie; in this story, the powerful being in charge of all the deserts; idle (adjective) — lazy; not wanting to do any work; hump (noun) — the big rounded bump on a camel's back; in the story it grows from the Camel's own rude word; trot (verb) — to run gently at a steady pace, the way a horse moves; fetch (verb) — to go and bring something back; plough (verb) — to break up and turn over the soil so seeds can be planted; harness (noun) — the straps put on a working animal so it can pull or carry loads; desert (noun) — a very dry, sandy place with little water and few plants.
Chapter 3: How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about a rhinoceros? What does its skin look like?
- Have you ever had someone take something of yours without asking? How did it feel?
- What are good manners, and why do people expect us to use them?
- How might a clever person get back at someone who was rude, without being mean or hurting them?
- What would it be like to live all alone on a warm island by the sea?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice the man with the shiny hat and the wonderful cake.
- Watch for the bad manners of the Rhinoceros.
- Look for the surprising fact that the Rhinoceros could take his skin off in those days.
- Pay attention to what the man hides inside the skin.
- Watch for how the folds and wrinkles and grumpy temper of the rhinoceros came to be.
Vocabulary to know:
Parsee (noun) — a person belonging to a group of people whose families first came from Persia and India; in this story, a kind man living on an island; uninhabited (adjective) — having nobody living there; empty of people; splendour (noun) — great brightness, beauty, and shine; currants (noun) — small dried fruits, like tiny raisins, used to flavor cakes; crumbs (noun) — tiny broken bits of cake or bread; manners (noun) — the polite way a person or animal is supposed to behave; palm (noun) — a tall tree with a straight trunk and big leaves at the very top, found in warm places; buttons (noun) — small round fasteners; long ago the rhinoceros's skin fastened with three of them.
Chapter 4: How the Leopard Got His Spots
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about a leopard's coat? What color and pattern is it?
- Why is it helpful for an animal to blend into the place where it lives?
- Have you ever tried to hide, and your clothes made you easy or hard to spot?
- What might a hunter do if the animals he chases suddenly become very hard to see?
- Why is it sometimes smart to change your plan when things around you change?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how the leopard and the hunter first look exactly like the sandy land around them.
- Watch for why the other animals move away into the shadowy forest.
- Look for the wise Baviaan who gives important advice.
- Pay attention to how blending into the shadows helps animals hide.
- Watch for the clever way the leopard finally gets his spots.
Vocabulary to know:
veldt (noun) — wide, open grassland in southern Africa; Baviaan (noun) — the wise baboon in the story who gives clever advice; 'sclusively (adverb) — the author's playful short way of saying 'exclusively,' which means only or entirely; blotches (noun) — large, uneven spots or patches of color; Koodoo (noun) — a kind of large African antelope with long, curling horns; Hartebeest (noun) — a kind of African antelope with a long face and curved horns; aboriginal (adjective) — original; there from the very beginning.
Chapter 5: The Elephant's Child
Before you read — think about:
- Do you like to ask a lot of questions? What is something you have always wondered about?
- What do you already know about an elephant's trunk and the many ways it is used?
- Have you ever been told to stop asking so many questions? How did that feel?
- What might happen if a very curious animal went looking for a dangerous creature?
- Why can being curious be both a good thing and a risky thing?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice the funny way the author describes the young elephant's endless curiosity.
- Watch for the one big question the Elephant's Child most wants answered.
- Look for the helpful bird and the helpful snake he meets along the way.
- Pay attention to the great grey-green, greasy river and who lives in it.
- Watch closely for the exact moment the elephant's nose begins to change.
Vocabulary to know:
curiosity (noun) — a strong wish to know or learn about things; the author playfully spells it 'curtiosity'; Limpopo (noun) — the name of a real African river, called in the story 'great, grey-green, and greasy'; Python (noun) — a very large snake that squeezes instead of using poison; Kolokolo (noun) — the name of the bird that tells the elephant where to go; trunk (noun) — the long, bendy nose of an elephant; melon (noun) — a big, round, juicy fruit; greasy (adjective) — slick and slippery, like something covered in oil or slimy mud; spanked (verb) — smacked as a punishment.
Chapter 6: The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about how a kangaroo moves? What are its back legs like?
- Have you ever wished to be special or different from everyone else?
- What do you think might happen if you had to run and run without stopping all day?
- Is it always a good idea to get exactly the wish you asked for? Why or why not?
- What might make an animal's legs grow long and strong over a long chase?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how the kangaroo looks at the very beginning, before he changes.
- Watch for exactly what he wishes for and how he asks for it.
- Look for the wild dog that chases him across the whole land.
- Pay attention to how the long chase changes the kangaroo's body.
- Watch for whether getting his wish makes the kangaroo happy or tired.
Vocabulary to know:
Dingo (noun) — a wild dog that lives in Australia; woolly (adjective) — covered in thick, soft wool or fuzzy fur; proud (adjective) — thinking very highly of yourself and wanting others to admire you; popular (adjective) — liked, wanted, and admired by many others; prayed (verb) — asked earnestly and seriously for something; grumbled (verb) — complained in a low, unhappy voice.
Chapter 7: The Beginning of the Armadillos
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about an armadillo? What does its body look like?
- Have you ever gotten mixed up when someone gave you too many rules to follow?
- How might a small animal protect itself from a much bigger hunter?
- What does it mean to 'trick' someone with words instead of by being stronger?
- Can two very different animals ever change to become more alike? How?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice the two rules the jaguar's mother teaches him.
- Watch how the hedgehog and the tortoise mix those rules up.
- Look for how being clever protects the small animals.
- Pay attention to how the tortoise and hedgehog slowly change their bodies.
- Watch for the moment a brand-new kind of animal appears.
Vocabulary to know:
Amazon (noun) — a huge, muddy river in South America; turbid (adjective) — cloudy and muddy, so you cannot see through it; Jaguar (noun) — a large, spotted wild cat that lives in the Americas; Hedgehog (noun) — a small animal whose back is covered in sharp prickles; Tortoise (noun) — a slow, land-living reptile that carries a hard shell on its back; prickles (noun) — sharp, stiff spines that stick out and hurt if touched; curl (verb) — to roll the body up into a tight ball; Armadillo (noun) — an animal with a hard, bony, plated shell that can roll up.
Chapter 8: How the First Letter Was Written
Before you read — think about:
- How do people send messages to each other when they are far apart?
- What did people do before there was any writing at all?
- Have you ever drawn a picture to explain something instead of using words?
- What might go wrong if someone reads your picture the wrong way?
- Why would it be helpful to invent a way to write messages down?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how Taffy and her father spend their day together.
- Watch for the problem that makes Taffy want to send a message home.
- Look for the stranger who agrees to carry the message.
- Pay attention to how Taffy makes her picture-message.
- Watch for how the message gets completely misunderstood.
Vocabulary to know:
Neolithic (adjective) — from the far-off Stone Age, when people lived in caves and used stone tools; spear (noun) — a long stick with a sharp point, used for hunting or fishing; carp (noun) — a kind of large freshwater fish; birch (noun) — a kind of tree with smooth, papery bark; Stranger (noun) — a person you have never met and do not know; tribe (noun) — a group of families who live and travel together; mend (verb) — to fix something that is broken.
Chapter 9: How the Alphabet Was Made
Before you read — think about:
- How many letters are in the alphabet, and can you name a few?
- Why is it useful to have a letter for each sound we say?
- If you had to invent a letter, what shape would you draw for the sound 'sss'?
- How do you think people first came up with letters long ago?
- What sounds can you make with your mouth, and how might you draw them?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how Taffy and her father match sounds to little pictures.
- Watch for the shapes they choose for different sounds.
- Look for how the snake sound becomes a letter.
- Pay attention to how they build up more and more letters.
- Watch for the special surprise they make at the very end.
Vocabulary to know:
alphabet (noun) — the whole set of letters used to spell words; hiss (noun) — the soft 'sss' sound a snake makes, used to invent the letter S; scratch (verb) — to make marks by scraping something sharp across a surface; shark (noun) — a large ocean fish with very sharp teeth; bead (noun) — a small object with a hole through it, strung with others to make jewelry; necklace (noun) — a string of beads or shells worn around the neck.
Chapter 10: The Crab That Played with the Sea
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about the tides, the way the sea rises and falls each day?
- What might happen if one creature refused to follow the rules everyone else obeyed?
- Have you ever seen the ocean come in and go out along a beach?
- Why is it important for everything in nature to have its own proper job?
- What do you think makes the sea move in and out, day after day?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how the Eldest Magician gives each animal its proper way to behave.
- Watch for the one great creature who slips away and does as he pleases.
- Look for how that creature's movements make the sea rise and fall.
- Pay attention to how the magician finally solves the problem.
- Watch for the gift the little girl gives to the crab.
Vocabulary to know:
Magician (noun) — a person with great magic powers; here, the Eldest Magician who made the world; eldest (adjective) — the oldest of all; tide (noun) — the daily rising and falling of the sea along the shore; flood (noun) — a great overflow of water that covers the land; shell (noun) — the hard outer covering that protects an animal's body; shears (noun) — a large cutting tool with two blades, like big scissors.
Chapter 11: The Cat That Walked by Himself
Before you read — think about:
- What do you already know about how dogs and cats behave differently?
- What does it mean to 'tame' a wild animal?
- Do you know any pets that seem very independent and like to do their own thing?
- Why might an animal choose to live near people instead of in the wild?
- What is a 'bargain,' and have you ever made a deal with someone?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how the Woman uses warmth and food to tame the wild animals.
- Watch for the order in which the animals give up their wildness.
- Look for what the Cat wants and what he refuses to give up.
- Pay attention to the clever bargain the Cat makes.
- Watch for why dogs still chase cats to this day.
Vocabulary to know:
wild (adjective) — living free in nature and not used to people; tame (verb) — to make a wild animal gentle and used to living with people; cave (noun) — a hollow space in rock, used here as the family's warm home; bargain (noun) — an agreement or deal between two sides; servant (noun) — one who works for and helps another; purr (verb) — to make the soft, rumbling sound a happy, contented cat makes; praise (noun) — kind words that say how good someone or something is.
Chapter 12: The Butterfly That Stamped
Before you read — think about:
- What do you know about kings, queens, and palaces from other stories?
- What does it mean to 'boast,' and why do people sometimes brag?
- Have you ever said you could do something big to impress a friend?
- How might a very wise person quietly help someone save face?
- Why is it better for people in a home to get along instead of argue?
Watch for these while reading:
- Notice how wise and gentle the king is with animals and people.
- Watch for the little butterfly's big boast to his wife.
- Look for how the king decides to help the butterfly.
- Pay attention to what happens to the palace when the butterfly stamps.
- Watch for the quiet lesson the king teaches about boasting and quarreling.
Vocabulary to know:
palace (noun) — the large, grand home of a king or queen; boast (verb) — to brag; to speak with too much pride about yourself; stamp (verb) — to bring your foot down hard and quickly; vanish (verb) — to disappear suddenly and completely; quarrel (verb) — to argue angrily; Afrit (noun) — a powerful magical spirit that obeys the king's command; obey (verb) — to do what you are told or commanded to do.
About the Author
Rudyard Kipling was a British writer who was born in India in 1865 and grew up loving stories from many different places. He became one of the most famous authors of his time and wrote poems, novels, and tales for both children and grown-ups, including "The Jungle Book." He first made up the "Just So Stories" to tell to his own children at bedtime before writing them down for everyone to enjoy.
"Just So Stories" was published in 1902, more than a hundred years ago, during a time when many people traveled by ship to faraway lands and were fascinated by the animals and cultures they found there. The stories belong to a very old tradition of "pourquoi tales" (a French word meaning "why"), which are folk stories from all around the world that explain how something in nature came to be. Kipling even drew his own funny pictures for the book and wrote long, playful captions to go with them.