Hi kids! I’m Ms. Booksy and this is Story Time at Cool School!
Today we’re reading Chapter 5 of the Jungle Book!
At the end of Chapter 4,
Mowgli had just been rescued from the monkeys
by her friends Baloo, Bagheera, and Kaa.
The gang was back together, and all was good in the Seeonee Hills.
Except one thing...
Shere Khan was on the prowl!
Not only did Shere Khan want to get rid of Mowgli —
that was bad enough! —
he also wanted to turn all the other animals against her!
Shere Khan had been telling all the young wolves that Mowgli was a terrible threat.
Mowgli is a human. A HUMAN
So?
Humans are the WORST! They cut down our trees,
hunt our prey,
and make a huge mess!
Plus they do annoying things like spit their gum on the ground!
That IS annoying! It gets stuck on my paws!
See what I’m saying? Humans stink and Mowgli’s one of them!
But whenever I do get gum on my paw, she pulls it off.
And she scratches me behind my ears!
She's awesome!
Okay, okay...
But she thinks she’s BETTER than you.
Haven’t you seen humans with their pet dogs?
Nope. We've never left the jungle.
Ugh, alright. Let me explain.
Humans think they’re the boss of all other animals.
They think they’re the boss of EVERYTHING.
You think Mowgli wants to be the boss of us?
She wants to be ruler of the Animal Council and she can’t be trusted!
She might make you her pets!
And force you to wear little sweaters and do tricks and eat biscuits!
So what do we do??
MS. BOOKSY: The wolves all agreed that Mowgli must go.
All except Mowgli’s wolf brothers.
They knew Mowgli was good and respected the law of the jungle.
They ran straight to Bagheera to see what they should do.
Hey Bags, what’s up?
I come with a warning!
Shere Khan plans to get rid of you!
He will act as soon as Akela is too old to lead the Council.
Akela is already too old!
He can’t pounce anymore,
and he can’t even see his prey without glasses!
Don’t be disrespectful, Mowgli.
You owe a lot to Akela for letting you stay!
I’m sorry, I guess I’m just a little scared.
Shere Khan could strike at any moment!
True. But I have a plan.
The animals of the jungle fear one thing more than anything else.
Do you know what it is?
Kaa?
Nope.
Monsters?
Nuh-uh.
Clowns?
If it isn’t clowns, I give up.
No... the red flower...
MS. BOOKSY: See, the red flower was fire,
but animals were so afraid of it
that to say “fire” was like saying a very bad word.
They had many different names for it, like Tree Eater,
dragon burps, and
Ow! Hot stuff!
But I’m not afraid of the red flower!
Go get the red flower and keep it alive until the next Animal Council.
That’s when you’ll need it.
Mowgli went straight to the nearest human village.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!
...I wonder where I heard that?
MS. BOOKSY: Mowgli peeked through a window
and saw the fire.
Funny that animals are so scared of fire,
but people keep it in their houses!
Where they sleep!
MS. BOOKSY: She watched a small boy gather some red coals from the fireplace
and put them in a clay pot.
What's that he's doing? Is he trying to scare a tiger too?
Roar! Roar roar!
Ah!!
Like taking fire from a baby!
I have to keep feeding it to keep it alive!
It’s like having my own little pet!
I shall name it...
Smoky!
Are you hungry, Smoky?
Hey! Whatcha doin'? He he
Nothing!
Uh, just... hanging out!
Well, come hang out at the Animal Council. Shere Khan’s orders. He he he he he
When Mowgli arrived, she saw that Akela was not sitting in front, as usual.
Shere Khan was!
This doesn't look good!
The meeting of the Animal Council will come to order!
Says who?
Says me. I’m the leader now.
And as leader, I command you to be my dinner!
No way!
Guys, why would you let a stinky tiger be your leader?
Akela is smart and strong, he’s one of us!
Akela’s too old!
Besides, “one of us”? You’re a human, Mowgli.
That’s not true! I’m a wolf!
Mowgli is NOT a wolf!
She's a human cub! Bring her to me!
No! Mowgli IS one of us!
Gray Brother is right! Mowgli has always been by our side!
Fellow animals of the jungle, please.
Do not listen to Khan!
MS. BOOKSY: But the young wolves wouldn’t listen.
Mowgli is a human! Yuck! Mowgli is a human! Gross!
If you will not come to me, I’ll come to you.
But then, little Mowgli, it will be a FIGHT.
I'm ready!
I have... FIRE!
Ah!!
Oh my, kids! I wonder what'll happen next!
Let's read chapter 6, right now!
Just click here or click the link below to come with me!