Image by Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto from Pixabay
Looking for ideas for books to read with animals featured as a character? I’ve listed some I have read over the years. Some are children’s books and some are adult books. As a person who cares greatly about animals, it’s fair to say the story lines of books with animals featured are the ones which pull at my heart strings the most. If you’re like me, you may need tissues at the ready. For more information on each book, please follow the link provided.
Michael Morpurgo – War Horse
War Horse is a British story of a horse who ends up as a service animal during the First World War. It follows his journey of farm life, war and how his former owner is reunited with him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Horse_(novel))
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
Michael Morpurgo – Why The Whales Came
Why The Whales Came is a children’s book based in Britain. It follows two friends through a journey of discovery of whales. They have been warned to stay away from a man who lives by the sea. During a trip to the beach they discover a stranded narwhal and have to decide if they can help it.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_the_Whales_Came)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
George Orwell – Animal Farm
Animal Farm is a British story. It is the story of a group of animals who work together to rebel against their human farmer in hope of a better life. Will they succeed?
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
Sara Gruen – Water For Elephants
Water For Elephants is a romance story which follows a young man who joins the circus in America. He discovers the cruel treatment of one elephant by the ringmaster and does all he can to help it.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_for_Elephants)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
John Grogan – Marley And Me
Marley and Me follows one family through their life of ownership of a Golden Labrador. It follows the ups and downs as they raise it from puppy until the sad day they have to say goodbye.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marley_%26_Me)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
Helen MacDonald – H Is For Hawk
H for Hawk is a memoir which tells the story of how Helen purchased a hawk to help through the grieving process after her father’s death. The relevance is, her father was a falconer.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H_is_for_Hawk)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
James Bowen – A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life
A Street Cat Named Bob is a memoir of how London man James befriends a ginger cat he later names Bob. He gives Bob a loving home and in return, Bob helps James to overcome his drug addiction and aids him to move forward to a better life.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bowen_(author)#A_Street_Cat_Named_Bob)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
E.B White – Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Wed is a children’s novel. It is based on farm and follows the story of Wilbur, a pig. He befriends a spider in the barn, Charlotte and she helps him to survive a typical farm life by spinning messages in her web for the farmer.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte%27s_Web)
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
Nicholas Evans – The Horse Whisperer
The Horse Whisperer is the story of Grace and her horse Pilgrim who must learn to trust and love each other again following a tragic accident. The accident killed Grace’s friend and her horse, but the aftermath for Grace and Pilgrim is a future of hard work and trust-building. Grace’s mother drives them across the country to a horse trainer she believes can help.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Horse_Whisperer_(novel))
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
Tibor Déry- Niki: The Story Of A Dog
Niki is a dog adopted by a family in Budapest. Political troubles cause her owner to be absent from home for several years.
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5984291-niki)
Information sourced from Good Reads, August 2020
Abigail Thomas – A Three Dog Life
I have copied some information for this one as this is the only book I have on my shelf that I have not yet read.
“When Abigail Thomas’s husband was hit by a car, it destroyed his short-term memory and consigned him to permanent brain trauma. Forced to adapt to a life alone, Abigail finds solace at home, discovering that friends, family and dogs can reshape a life of chaos into one that makes sense – a life full of its own richness and beauty.”
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8769628-a-three-dog-life?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=4plRS6uUfo&rank=1)
Information sourced from Good Reads, August 2020
Lauren Brooke – The Heartland Series
Heartland is a series of books which follows Amy as she comes to terms with the loss of her mother following a tragic accident when trying to rescue a horse. Amy’s mum was a horse trainer and healer and while learning to live a life without her, Amy learns to fill the void of horse trainer. With the help of her mum’s journal, Amy is guided through her mum’s methods and natural medicines.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartland_(novel_series))
Information sourced from Wikipedia, August 2020
