Animals in Literature

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 1987

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, Philosophy, Business / Economics, Animals, Health / Medicine, Technology, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 1952

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: Aging, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Fate, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude

Tags Classic Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Children's Literature, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Animals, Education, Education, Fantasy

Charlotte’s Web was written by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams, and first published in 1952. It is considered a quintessential American children’s fiction novel and has been adapted into two films (1973, 2006) and a stage musical. Over the years, Charlotte’s Web has been awarded the Newbery Honor Award for children’s books, the George C. Stone Center for Children’s Books Recognition of Merit Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, and the Massachusetts Children’s... Read Charlotte's Web Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature

Written in 2012 by Carl Hiaasen, Chomp is a young adult novel set in Hiaasen’s native Florida (specifically, Everglades National Park). Hiaasen, who began his career as a journalist, is the author of six other books for young readers (as well as numerous adult novels). Because his work blends humor with grim realism, Chomp features characters who are just as “bizarre” as their Florida setting. Primarily known for his crime fiction, Hiaasen also crafts stories... Read Chomp Summary


Publication year 2004

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Food, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Economics

Tags Humor, Arts / Culture, Philosophy, Animals, Food, American Literature, Journalism, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Teams, Natural World: Animals, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Military / War, Historical Fiction, Animals, Action / Adventure

Cynthia Kadohata’s Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam is a work of historical fiction that centers around a dog, Cracker, and her handler, Rick Hanski, during their deployment in Vietnam. It is aimed at an audience of middle-grade readers but is also an enjoyable and educational read for adults. Told from the perspective of both the canine and human main characters, Kadohata reveals the vitally important work conducted by military dogs and their handlers during... Read Cracker Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family

Tags Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Magical Realism

Crenshaw is Katherine Applegate’s 2015 middle grade novel about Jackson, a young boy whose family is struggling with financial instability, and his imaginary friend, Crenshaw, a human-sized cat with a fondness for bubble baths and doing cartwheels. Narrated by Jackson in the first person, the story explores the impact of poverty on family and community, the need to reconcile fact and fancy, and how to face the unknown and unpreventable productively.Other works by this author... Read Crenshaw Summary


Publication year 1981

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Family

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Animals

Cujo, a horror-thriller novel first published in 1981, is the 10th novel by the American “King of Horror,” Stephen King. It was inspired by a trip the author took to a mechanic in rural Maine whose St. Bernard nearly attacked King. Cujo received several accolades upon its release and won the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1982. It was adapted into a film of the same name in 1983.The citations in this study... Read Cujo Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Animals, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 1933

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Modernism, Animals


Publication year 2016

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Animals, Children's Literature


Publication year 2020

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Fantasy, Humor, Action / Adventure, Animals, Children's Literature


Publication year 2018

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Family

Tags Humor, Animals, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature


Publication year 2021

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals


Publication year 2016

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Humor, Fantasy, Animals


Publication year 1985

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Action / Adventure, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature

Dogsong, first published in 1985, is a young adult novel by American author Gary Paulsen, who wrote Dogsong while he was training his dog sled team for his first Iditarod run. It was awarded the Newbery Honor Award in 1986. Paulsen, who was a popular author of young adult and children’s contemporary literature, is best known for books in the coming-of-age genre, often dealing with surviving the wilderness and embracing nature. He authored more than... Read Dogsong Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Animals


Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment

Tags Food, Philosophy, Animals, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Philosophy

Eating Animals is a nonfiction book written by Jonathan Safran Foer and published originally in 2009. Foer is an accomplished novelist, and Eating Animals is his first foray into long-form nonfiction writing. The book fits into a genre of criticism of the food industry, specifically factory farming and animal welfare. Eating Animals is a New York Times bestseller, though it met with mixed reviews regarding both the content and style of Foer’s writing. In 2018... Read Eating Animals Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Poverty, Animals, Gender / Feminism, Relationships, Science / Nature, Great Depression, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 1986

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Environment

Tags History: European, Science / Nature, Anthropology, Animals, Agriculture, History: World, Anthropology