The Just So Stories characters

Appears from the start

A sea creature who eats every fish he can find and then swallows a shipwrecked mariner. The captive man's resourcefulness leaves the Whale unable to swallow large prey afterward.

First appears in chapter 2

An idle desert animal who refuses to help the Horse, Dog, and Ox with their work. His repeated refusal brings the Djinn's intervention and explains both his hump and his ability to go without food while working.

First appears in chapter 3

A rude, solitary animal who disrupts the Parsee's meal and steals his cake. The Parsee's revenge leaves the Rhinoceros with a loose, wrinkled hide and a lasting bad temper.

First appears in chapter 4

A hunter who works with the Ethiopian on the open plain. When their prey conceal themselves in a forest, the Leopard receives a spotted coat that helps him blend into the broken light.

First appears in chapter 5

An endlessly inquisitive young elephant whose relatives punish his questions. He travels to the Limpopo River to learn what crocodiles eat, and the dangerous answer stretches his short nose into a useful trunk.

First appears in chapter 6

A vain Australian animal who asks to become different from all others and especially popular. The god Nqong answers indirectly by sending Dingo to chase him until the long run transforms his legs and movement.

First appears in chapter 7

A young predator taught by his mother how to hunt a hedgehog and a tortoise. Their exchanged skills and confusing new appearance prevent him from catching either and help account for the first armadillos.

First appears in chapter 8

A lively prehistoric girl who accompanies her father on his outings. Her attempt to send home a picture-message causes a large misunderstanding; afterward, she and her father continue experimenting until their pictures become written signs for sounds.

First appears in chapter 8

Taffy's patient father, a hunter and toolmaker. When his spear breaks, he lets Taffy devise a message asking for another, then joins her later effort to turn recognizable shapes into an alphabet.

First appears in chapter 10

A giant crab who secretly leaves his place in the newly ordered world and drags the sea back and forth, causing destructive changes in the water. The Eldest Magician finds him, reduces his size, and sets lasting conditions on his life and armor.

First appears in chapter 11

A self-possessed wild animal who watches the other animals accept domestic life but insists on independence. Through a careful bargain with the Woman, he gains a place by the fire and milk while remaining separate from both Dog and Man.

First appears in chapter 11

The first person to make a comfortable home in the story of domestication. She draws wild animals into the cave through food and practical bargains, and the Cat's carefully chosen agreement tests the limits of her authority.

Also known as Solomon

First appears in chapter 12

A powerful king who can understand animals and command a magical ring. Although he could silence the disputes in his household by force, he values restraint; Balkis helps him use a butterfly's boast to restore order without direct punishment.

First appears in chapter 12

Suleiman-bin-Daoud's wisest wife and trusted partner. She sees the strain caused by the other wives' quarrels and devises a way for Suleiman to demonstrate his power through a butterfly's exaggerated claim.

First appears in chapter 12

A boastful insect who tells his wife that one stamp of his foot could make Suleiman's palace disappear. Suleiman overhears and briefly makes the boast appear true, giving the Butterfly unexpected prestige at home.