Fun Books About Animals

Recommended Reading for Children and Young Adults
Printable List

Pre-K

Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? By Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships by Catherine Thimmesh
The Shelter Dog by Christine Davis
Don’t Lick the Dog by Wendy Wahman

K-3rd grade

Go Home!: The True Story of James the Cat by Libby Phillips Meggs
Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
A Home for Dakota by Jan Zita Grover
Maggie’s Second Chance by Nancy Furstinger
Orville: A Dog Story by Haven Kimmel

3rd – 5th Grades

Series: Why Some Cats are Rascals by B. Nowiki
Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays by Peg Kehret
The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick
The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldan
The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

4th – 6th GradesRed fern

Vet Volunteer Series

Fight for Life #1 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Homeless #2 by Laurie Halse Anderson

A Dog’s Life: Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin
Angelo’s Journey: A Border Collie’s Quest for Home by Leland Dirks
Finally Home: Lessons on Life from a Free-Spirited Dog by Elizabeth Parker
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Rosie: A Visiting Dog's Story by Stephanie Calmenson

6th Grade and Up (Young Adult)

Final Journey: Buddy’s Book by Elizabeth Parker
Oogy: The Dog only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin
Amazing Gracie: A Dog’s Tale by Dan Dye
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalvan
A Dog’s Purpose by Bruce Cameron
A Dog’s Journey by Bruce Cameron
The Dog Who Danced by Susan Wilson