The selections in this Collection explore the common motif of animals in literature. From classic novels to contemporary poetry and nonfiction, these titles delve into the relationships between humans and animals, shedding light on the profound impact animals have on our lives and exploring humanity's relationship with the natural world.
Publication year 2016
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Animals
Publication year 1976
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Natural World: Animals, Self Discovery
Tags Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Survival Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment
Tags Animals, Science / Nature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Animals, Children's Literature
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Identity: Gender, Self Discovery
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Grief / Death, Children's Literature
Publication year 1999
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Animals, Religion / Spirituality, Relationships, Latin American Literature
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Animals, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Fantasy, Humor, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction
A Dog’s Purpose: A Novel for Humans is a novel by Bruce W. Cameron and is the first in his A Dog’s Purpose series of novels. Written in 2010, the novel was a New York Times bestseller for 49 weeks. The novel is unique in that it is narrated by a dog. The dog lives four lives over the course of the novel, seeking a purpose for his life during each of his incarnations. In... Read A Dog's Purpose Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1972
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags British Literature, Animals, Humor
All Creatures Great and Small is the first in a series of fictionalized memoirs by Yorkshire veterinarian James Alfred “Alf” Wight (1916-1995), writing under the name James Herriot. Originally published in the UK as two shorter volumes, If Only They Could Talk (1970) and It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet (1972), the US publisher released them as a single volume in 1972 under a new title drawn from the Anglican hymn “All Things Bright and... Read All Creatures Great and Small Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Health / Medicine, Education, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Natural World: Animals
Tags Science / Nature, Animals, Journalism, Politics / Government
Publication year 1595
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags British Literature, Play: Comedy / Satire, Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Arts / Culture, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Animals
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedic play by William Shakespeare that was likely first written and performed around 1600. The first certifiably recorded performance took place in 1604. Set in the Greek city-state of Athens, the play centers on an impending marriage. Before the wedding, the characters find themselves in a forest where a group of fairies manipulates and tricks them. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and most performed... Read A Midsummer Night's Dream Summary
Publication year 1766
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Lyric Poem, Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: War, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Historical Fiction, Animals, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art
Tags Animals, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 1945
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community
Tags Satire, History: European, Politics / Government, Philosophy, Animals, Post-War Era, Allegory / Fable / Parable, British Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Education, Education, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Published in 1945, Animal Farm by George Orwell (1903-1950) achieved immediate success and remains one of Orwell’s most popular works. A political satire in the guise of a moving and whimsical animal fable, the novella is about a group of farm animals who overthrow their owner, Mr. Jones, and establish animal rule. Although the animals start with high hopes for Animal Farm as a harmonious and just utopia where “all animals are equal” (19), it... Read Animal Farm Summary
Publication year 1977
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment
Tags Philosophy, Animals, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Social Justice, Food, Politics / Government
Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals is a book by renowned Australian philosopher Peter Singer. Published in 1975 and re-released most recently in 2009, with an additional preface by the author, the book is widely recognized as a foundational text within the animal liberation movement. Singer tries to persuade the reader of his or her own implicit “speciesism,” a term he popularized, and he argues that the discrimination against other species... Read Animal Liberation Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Climate
Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Animals, Psychology
Publication year 2003
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Social Justice