Brought up by wolves among the unforgettable characters of the jungle, Bagheera the black panther, and Baloo the bear who teaches him the law of the jungle, Mowgli grows up to become the Master of the Jungle. He can speak the jungle languages and understand their complex social structure from the bees nests to the monkey folk and the ferocity of the tiger Sher Khan. Ranging in tone from the simple heroism of Rikki-tikki-tavi to the dark comedy of The Undertakers and the poignancy of Mowglis return to his own kind in The Spring Running, the stories in The Jungle Books are rich in vivid description and superb characterization. They are among the finest work of a master storyteller.