JUNGLE STORIES
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

1) The Great Kapok Tree, The Ungrateful Tiger, Old Lady and The Red Pumpkin and The Iguana Brothers.

2) How about The Magic Tree, otherwise known as Owongelama? I find it a hit with all ages.

3) The Legend of Obi Gui Gui is a good one. It also explains why coconuts fall from the trees. Good lesson on caring for family and not being selfish.
Also, B'Whale and B'Elephant, found in More Ready to Tell Tales by Holt and Mooney.
The Monkey's Heart.
Mabela the Clever, mice march into the jungle followed by the cat. It is a Limba tale and the book adaptation is done by Margaret Read MacDonald under the same title. Great lesson held within the story. I told this and Obi Gui Gui for fifth graders last month and they were both well received.

4) Try Jack and the Giant, changing the forest to a jungle. Why not?
http://folktale.net/eatcont.html

5) I think several of the Anansi stories would work for you. How about Anansi and the Box of Stories, which includes such jungle animals as a python, a leopard and some giant hornets?

6) The One You Don't See Coming from a compilation of African tales by Harold Courlander would definitely work for an audience of 5th graders and would fit in with the other selections like the ones below. It has both humor and suspense.

(This web page updated 8/9/03)