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 2021
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Humor, Animals, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Children's Literature
Publication year 1998
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Animals, Love / Sexuality, LGBTQ, History: World, Historical Fiction, Canadian Literature
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Humor, Animals, Fantasy, Children's Literature
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Religion / Spirituality
Leaving Time, the 2014 novel by Jodi Picoult, is the story of a young girl’s search for her missing mother. When Jenna Metcalf was 3 years old, her mother, Alice, went missing under mysterious circumstances. Jenna’s parents run an elephant sanctuary in New Hampshire. One night, an employee’s body is found trampled by an elephant. Jenna’s mother is taken to the hospital with a head injury, possibly caused by the same elephant, but checks herself... Read Leaving Time Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Animals, Humor, Children's Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Realistic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Animals, Children's Literature, Education, Education
Love That Dog is a Newbery Award-winning middle grade book by Sharon Creech. Published in 2001, the book combines comedy and tragedy in detailing young Jack’s journey to loving poetry—a journey that takes form via free verse journal entries. Though Jack initially scoffs at the idea of writing poems, he later learns the value of his own voice. This guide refers to the 2002 Bloomsbury Children’s Books paperback edition.Other works by this author include Ruby... Read Love That Dog Summary
Publication year 2005
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Animals, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Humor
Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog (2005) is an autobiography by journalist John Grogan. This guide is based on the 2005 first edition. The story was inspired by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Grogan’s obituary for his dog Marley.The book was adapted into a full-length film in 2008 and has also been adapted into a series of children’s stories about Marley. The title is borrowed from a chapter near the... Read Marley And Me Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Science / Nature, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1947
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Animals
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Teams, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Self Discovery
Tags Realistic Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature
... Read Moo Summary
Publication year 1988
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Animals, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1946
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature
Tags Christian literature, Animals, American Literature
Publication year 1938
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals
Tags Lyric Poem, Animals, Modernism, Mythology
Publication year 1971
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Fantasy, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Technology, Grief / Death, Agriculture, Parenting, Science / Nature, Philosophy, Sociology
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a children’s science fiction novel written in 1971 by Robert C. O’Brien. It tells the story of a field mouse whose son becomes ill as moving day approaches, so she enlists the help of a group of highly intelligent experimental rats for help. Robert C. O’Brien was inspired to write the Rats of NIMH after a visit to the National Institute of Mental Health’s experimental rat compound... Read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Summary
Publication year 1948
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction, Animals
In Ruth Stiles Gannett’s classic children’s adventure, My Father’s Dragon (1948), nine-year-old Elmer Elevator runs away to rescue a baby dragon held captive by the animals of Wild Island. Elmer must navigate a dense jungle and outwit fearsome adversaries, including tigers, a rhinoceros, and a lion in his expedition and, hopefully, realize his own dream of flying. As Elmer follows his quest, Gannett explores themes of courage, cleverness, and social sensitivity. My Father’s Dragon received... Read My Father's Dragon Summary
Publication year 1988
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science / Nature, Animals, Anthropology, Anthropology, Biography
Publication year 1959
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Community
Tags Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Science / Nature, Realistic Fiction
My Side of the Mountain is a 1959 adventure novel by Jean Craighead George. It is the first in a five-book series, though George’s sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, was not published until 1990. As discussed in the Author’s Preface, My Side of the Mountain is inspired largely by George’s own experiences as a child. Growing up, George loved nature and attempted to run away from home to live in the outdoors... Read My Side of the Mountain Summary
Publication year 1963
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Animals
Tags Science / Nature, Animals, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction, Biography
Farley Mowat published Never Cry Wolf in 1963. The book is a non-fiction memoir of the 18 months he spent in the Barrens, a treeless area of tundra, studying arctic wolves for the Dominion Wildlife Service. Told that these wolves killed caribou for sport, Farley was surprised to discover that wolves never attacked humans and only culled the deer herds of unhealthy animals. Farley also encountered rampant inefficiency among his government colleagues, which he reports... Read Never Cry Wolf Summary