Wild Animals Book List

Enjoy some of the best-selling titles featuring unforgettable characters from the Animal Kingdom. Here are beloved children's stories sorted for every level of reader, from youngest to oldest.

The busy Boston streets are too dangerous for eight little ducklings! But with a little help from a friendly policeman, Mrs. Mallard and her family arrive safely at their new home. The Public Garden was no place for the ducklings when they were first born, but now they're old enough to brave the raucous crowds and swim with the giant swan boats. Available for the first time in a full-size paperback edition, this Caldecott Medal-winning classic continues to delight generations of children. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. The 1942 Caldecott Medal winner.

Your children will delight in this classic story of Little Sal and Little Bear who go Blueberry picking with their mothers on Blueberry Hill in Maine. When they wander away from their mothers, each mistakes the other's mother for its own! With simple illustrations, childlike humor, and just enough suspense for young children, this book will be a family favorite for years to come! Recommended for ages 2 to 6. A 1949 Caldecott Honor book.

In the spring, Nicholas like to sniff the flowers, and in the summer, watch the frogs in the pond. In the fall, he watches the animals getting ready for winter, and in winter, watches the snow falling from the sky. This gentle story, beautifully illustrated by Richard Scarry is one of Golden Book's most beloved titles. For ages 2-5.

A little girl and her father go late at night into the forest, looking for owls. As they quietly walk along, trees and animals silently keep them company. Her father makes the call of the Great Horned Owl, and they wait for a reply. Is there an owl in the forest? Will they see one tonight? This Caldecott Medal winner is a verbal and visual treasure that celebrates the special companionship between a parent and child as they share the beauty of nature together. 32 pages.

Brother Hugo needs to return a very important library book---another monastery's copy of St. Augustine. But along the way, a hungry bear devours the precious book, and the Abbot tasks Hugo with replacing it. Letter by letter and line by line the hapless monk crafts a new book and sets off to return it. It turns out, though, that once a bear has a taste of letters, he's rarely satisfied. With a hungry bear close on his heels, will Brother Hugo ever make it back with his fine parchment in one piece?

There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no Bears, no Bears at all!

So says Jonathan's uncle James. And his mother, who sends him over Hemlock Mountain to fetch a large pot from his aunt. And Jonathan himself, as he walks over the mountain, hearing his voice to reassure himself that there are no bears. But after dawdling at his aunt's house, he crosses back over the mountain in the dark.and hears a tell-tale crunch crunch in the snow, and the sniff sniff of a large animal.

This classic Newbery Honor book was first published in 1952 and is a must-have for any child's bookshelf.

This unique book features the trademark illustrations of the D'Aulaires, and arrives not as a book, but as a long, pull-out, folded paper encased in cloth-bound hardcover case. The front of the banner features colored pencil illustrations in bright hues, with simple text beneath highlighting animals by their broad environments-where it's hot, where there are seasons, and where it is always cold. The back features the same illustrations, but in black & white; the animals are labeled with their names and the noise they make. Read it page-by-page or pull it out to create a continuous panorama; more than fifty animals are lithographed in full color form.

Rhyme and repetition make this tale a favorite with young ones. Based on a Kenyan folk tale, this brightly illustrated picture book tells the story of how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain. .Ki-pat is an ordinary herdsman who sees his herd of cows as well as the wild animals suffering, so he shoots an arrow into a rain cloud. His action brings the rain, green grass, and comfort in this cumulative poem based on the rhythm of “The House that Jack Built.” 32 pages, softcover. Ages 5 to 8.

While reading an encyclopedia, a highly educated scientist realizes that he doesn’t know anything about tigers! He begins studying them until he can rattle off every tiger fact imaginable, including their habitat (jungles and marshy areas), their average weight (300-500 pounds), and their scientific name (Panthera tigris). But when he hires a guide to take him to see a tiger in person, the scientist discovers that he might not quite know everything.

With deadpan humor and illustrations that perfectly complement the story, Panthera Tigris will delight nature lovers and budding scientists.

"Better a bear in the orchard than an Orchard in the bear," was the firm belief of Johnny Orchard's grandfather. That was one good reason why there was no bearskin on Johnny's barn. All the other barns in the valley had huge bearskins hung to dry. Johnny was humiliated. Since his father would do nothing about the situation, Johnny took things into his own hands. He went looking for the biggest bear in the forest and he came home with a very little bear. But the bear grew as all bears do, and Johnny was in trouble.

With this completely engaging picturebook, artist Lynd Ward makes his debut as a writer for children. His writing has all the charm, the distinction and the strength of these pictures the most delightful he has ever done. Children of all ages will find this an exciting picturebook, one to be read, reread, and to be treasured both for its story and for the beauty of Mr. Ward's drawings. Recommended for ages 4 to 8. The 1953 Caldecott Medal winner.

This gorgeous picture book edition of the classic story from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was adapted and illustrated by beloved award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney.

"A beautiful edition for reading aloud," proclaimed Booklist. "Excitement and danger ebb and flow throughout," added Kirkus.

Soon after a flood washes Rikki into the garden of a family, he comes face-to-face with Nag and Nagaina, two giant cobras. The snakes are willing to attack Rikki, and even the human family who lives there, to claim the garden and house for themselves. But they do not count on the heart and pride of the brave little mongoose.

Jerry Pinkney was "widely acclaimed for his picture books honoring his Black heritage as well as for his richly detailed works reimagining well-loved fairy and folktales," noted Publishers Weekly. His version of The Lion & the Mouse by Aesop was awarded the Caldecott Medal, and his books also received five Caldecott Honor citations. He was recognized with two lifetime achievement awards: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now known as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award) and the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award.

Amos the mouse and Boris the whale: a devoted pair of friends with nothing at all in common, except good hearts and a willingness to help their fellow mammal. They meet after Amos sets out to sail the sea and finds himself in extreme need of rescue. And there will come a day, long after Boris has gone back to a life at sea and Amos has gone back to life on dry land, when the tiny mouse must find a way to rescue the great whale.  32 pages. Paperback. Ages 8-11.

The creator of whimsical fantasies featuring a bevy of lifelike and lovable creatures, Bill Peet consistently combined excellant storytelling with enduring illustrations, becoming one of the most popular picture book creators of our time. Read the story of the Elephant and the ant and their adventures with the jungle animals.

2010 Caldecott Winner!
The lion and the mouse in this elegantly-illustrated fable don't "speak"-or at least they don't speak in English. Squeeks and roars and the putt-putt of the poacher's jeep are the only sounds needed to convey Aesop's classic story of the lion that let the mouse go, and the mouse's repayment of the deed. Hardcover with dust jacket.

With over 3 million copies sold around the world, Graeme Base’s amazing alliterative alphabet book Animalia is one of the most beloved children’s picture books of all time, treasured by children and parents alike as a special reading experience.
 
"So extraordinary, so extravagantly illustrated, so astonishingly alliterative, so thoroughly delightful that any child who does not soon possess it may rightly feel his education has been shamefully neglected." —San Francisco Chronicle
 
Animalia’s incredible imaginary world intrigues readers of all ages, with hidden objects and ideas on every page.

• A is for an Armored Armadillo Avoiding an Angry Alligator
• B is for Beautiful Blue Butterflies Basking by a Babbling Brook
• C is for Crafty Crimson Cats Carefully Catching Crusty Crayfish
• And the rest of the alphabet is just as much fun!

The creator of whimsical fantasies featuring a bevy of lifelike and lovable creatures, Bill Peet consistently combines excellent storytelling with enduring illustrations, becoming one of the most popular picture book creators of our time. In "Farewell To Shady Glade" the woodland creatures who are the residents of Shady Glade hear a deep rumbling sound which causes them to leave their happy habitat. They board a passing train in search of a new home. Ages 4--8, softcover from Houghton Mifflin Company.

Explore the wonders of the wild with bestselling author/illustrator Julia Rothman! Packed with hundreds of charming, original illustrations, Wildlife Anatomy is a delightfully guide to all the beasts of the wild—from lions, tigers, and bears to musk oxen, monkeys, elephants, giraffes, foxes, badgers, bats, crocodiles, owls, flying squirrels and much more. Uncover the unique features of animals in this rich and full visual resource! Paperback, 208 pages.

Ezra Brown, a fourteen-year-old ship's boy, was standing watch in the crow's nest during a snowstorm when he first saw the white seabird. Suddenly she flew straight upward, and Ezra quickly realized that his whaling ship was heading straight for an iceberg! The ship was saved, and later, from two Walrus tusks he'd traded with an Eskimo for, Ezra carved Seabird. He set her on a limber piece of baleen so the bird could hover in the air around him as he completed his chores on the ship.

Seabird became the mascot for four generations of seafarers: aboard a whaler, a clipper ship, a steamship, and finally an airplane. The story takes a unique look at America's seafaring history through the eyes of a carved bird and her special owners. It is full of beautiful, full-page paintings as well as fascinating and informative black-and-white drawings that ring the text. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. A 1949 Newbery Honor book.

In the tradition of classics like Paddle-to-the-Sea, Minn of the Mississippi, and Seabird, Holling C. Holling presents an intricate study of tide pool life. The illustrations and text follow the story of Pagoo, a hermit crab, and you'll learn about the life cycle of hermit crabs and many other creatures found in an average tidal pool. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

The history of the Mississippi River Valley is creatively told using text and pictures through the life of a snapping turtle named Minn. Hatched at the source of the great Mississippi, Minn has many adventures as she makes her way down the river, through the heart of America, to the Gulf of Mexico. History and life along the river springs vividly to life as Minn meets many different people and creatures that live along the mighty river. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. A 1952 Newbery Honor book.

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.

A classic Newbery Award winning novel about kindness and community.

It has been a while since Folks lived in the Big House, and an even longer time has passed since there has been a garden at the House. All the animals of the Hill are very excited about the new Folks moving in, and they wonder how things are going to change. It’s only a matter of time before the animals of the Hill find out just who is moving in, and they may be a little bit surprised when they do.

It’s people versus owls in this laugh-out-loud story about one family’s love for a special little owl, from bestselling nature writer and Newbery Medal winner Jean Craighead George!

Borden Watson’s father is out of job, and it’s all the spotted owls’ fault. The birds are endangered, which means loggers, like Mr. Watson, are no longer allowed to cut down trees.

It doesn’t make sense to Borden. Why are owls being put first over the citizens?

But when Borden finds an owlet in the forest who needs his care, he brings it back home—much to Mr. Watson’s displeasure. Hilarious chaos soon ensues, as the tiny owl makes big changes in this logging family’s home, and makes his way into their hearts.

This heartwarming story is a great way for young readers to learn about important topics, like endangered species, conservation, and environmentalism.

A Newbery Honor Book

Celebrating 50 years of a beloved classic!

Nothing's surprising in the North household, not even Sterling's new pet raccoon. Rascal is only a baby when Sterling brings him home, but soon the two are best friends, doing everything together--until the spring day when everything suddenly changes.

Rascal is a heartwarming boyhood memoir that continues to find its way into the hearts of readers fifty years later. This special anniversary edition includes the book's classic illustrations restored to their original splendor, as well as a letter from the author's daughter, and material from the illustrator's personal collection.


"Everyone should knock off work, sit beneath the nearest tree, and enjoy Rascal from cover to cover."—Chicago Tribune

What happens when a capybara is brought into captivity to live with a family? What will the capybara do next? Find out in Capyboppy, the true story and adventures of Capyboppy, the Peet family's pet capybara. RecommendedFor ages 4 to 8.

The Alaskan wilderness is a lonely place for Mark Andersen, especially after the death of his older brother, Jamie. But in time Mark finds someone else to love--Ben, an Alaskan brown bear so huge that no one else dares come near him. Gentle Ben has been a favorite of readers of all ages for 25 years, and is a timeless story of a rare friendship. An ALA Notable Book.