Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

I first encountered this story as a child, as an animated film on television. It became my favorite story, with the cadence of the narration and the wonderful animation bringing the story to life. I used to watch it every year, just like the Christmas specials and The Wizard of Oz. I've even seen it a few times as an adult, each time reliving a little piece of my childhood.When I saw this book recently, on a list of free books, I grabbed it up so I could carry this little piece around with me all the time. I was kind of afraid to actually read the story, because so often these days books and their movies don't have much in common. However, this is word for word the animated story I have enjoyed so many times; or should I say the animated film is just like the book. The language is lyrical, and there is a rhythm to the story that reinforces this quality. If I had a child, since they don't show the film any more, this would be a regular on the bedtime story list, and not just for the language. The themes of making the best of what happens to you in life, and of protecting your family, are woven throughout this story, as well as using common sense when planning anything you have to do. I'm going to grab The Jungle Book next!

Rikki Tikki Tavi is the story of a young lone warrior facing two experienced, ruthless killers in urban and subterranean combat. He and his adversaries wage an asymmetric campaign against each other, where our hero has to weigh the tactical necessities, ethics, gaining the support of the civilian population, and ensuring the safety of civilians as he engages a threat that would kill innocents to control key terrain.This isn't Mogadishu or Mumbai, this is a mongoose who is the guest of a human family protecting his humans from a pair of cobras. In the drains, bathrooms, and garden of humans who rescued him when he was a half-drowned kit, Rikki stalks and is stalked by Nag and Nagina as they prepare for their clutch of eggs to hatch. With the help a pair of tailor birds and a cowardly muskrat, Rikki defeats the cobras and protects his family.A heroic and inspiring tale suitable for every child, even if the parents are too effete to cope with a to-the-death fight against an enemy that threatens everything Rikki loves.Yes, I enjoyed it immensely, if that was not obvious.E. M. Van Court

This classic tale, featured originally in The Jungle Book, tells of the brave battle of Rikki-Tikki the mongoose against the deadly cobras, Nag and Nagaina. Rikki-Tikki is swept away from his family by a flood and finds himself a most welcome guest of a human family.I remember reading this once in school, though I can't remember exactly when, and I was happy to come across it for free on Amazon. It's actually quite an exciting tale, though perhaps a little scary. The snakes, Nag and Nagaina, are sinister and plot the death of the entire family in the big house, hoping that Rikki-Tikki would then move on. But luckily their plot is discovered, and the mongoose defends his adoptive family with every fiber of his being.The characters are varied and are each entertaining in their own right. I love the idiotic Tailorbird, Danzee. He weeps, sings, and celebrates in turn, without any regard to consequence, mostly because of his short attention span. The little fearful musk-rat, who runs along the walls, but never to the center of the room, is also amusing. His role as informant is important to winning the battle, but mostly because he's afraid he'll be mistaken for the mongoose.But mostly, I love Rikki-Tikki himself. Too curious to be afraid and fiercely protective of the young family and the creatures of the yard, he is an admirable hero. Brave and funny, and believable, too. When he's not busy saving the day, he scampers around on the breakfast table, perches on the little boy's shoulder, and otherwise endears himself to both the family and the reader.I also like the poem at the beginning and Danzee's song at the end, cut short because Danzee himself was interupted in the singing by Rikki-Tikki.Overall, a short, but powerful story of triumph, bravery, and danger. I recommend this one to anyone who likes rooting for the underdog and those who enjoy animal characters.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling is a 34-page short story about a young mongoose which is found in the 1894 anthology called The Jungle Book, but is now found in Kindle for free. Children will love this charming story. Mongooses are known for killing snakes, including cobras and eating them. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the war cry of the young mongoose as he fights snakes.In this tale, the mongoose is saved by a white English family of a father, mother, and young boy. The story is about how he saves the family on a couple of occasions from snakes and how he battles three snakes, including a husband and wife cobra and their 25 eggs that are about to hatch.

Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book stories are timeless and in this standalone booklet, first published in 1894, featuring the lovable, adorable, but tough and tenacious mongoose or meercat, Rikki Tikki Tavi, Kipling’s eye for capturing the characters of the animals and people who feature is simply genius and beautiful. The short exciting story describes the little moongoose’s battle with the cobra Nag and his wife, Nagaina in the garden and house of little Teddy, Teddy’s mother and English father. This short story and the entire book can be downloaded on Amazon, so enjoy an enduring classic. Your children will love the stories too.

This is one of my favorite stories. When my boys were little, we had it animated on VHS. I remember watching it on reel to reel! It is a story that will never grow old. A melding of words set in India where death is as small as a tiny snake or as frightening as a cobra. Rikki destroys the evil and keeps the bungalow free with tooth and claw. I love how the rescued mongoose saves Teddy and ‘he saved all of us.’ This is a fun read aloud and a great piece of classic literature.