Elephant's Child

Rudyard Kipling's story, "Elephant's Child" is a most peculiar half hour. This is because, of all people, Jack Nicholson narrates the story...and he's someone you'd never expect to be reading the kiddies a bedtime story! And, unfortunately, although he's an amazing actor, here in this children's story, his reading isn't particularly inspiring. In fact, it's VERY low energy and isn't something I'd recommend folks rush out to see.

The story is a 'just so story'...one of several originally written by Kipling for his daughter. "Elephant's Child" is probably the most famous of them and it tells how the elephant went from having a short, stubby nose to the long trunk we associate with them today. The story itself is fun and I recommend it...though I think there are better versions, such as Sterling Holloway's recording of the story. His voice is just better suited to telling children's stories. Additionally, the music by Bobby McFerrin isn't exactly to my liking.