Favorite Animals - Exodus Books

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It would be easy to make a catalog of all the pets we've had over the years, but that's not the kind of "favorite animals" we're talking about. Favorite animals are those animals that have most thoroughly captured the imagination and love of humans. Okay, so maybe love is the wrong word to describe the dragon-craze or our enduring fascination with dinosaurs, but it surely applies to horses, dogs and cats.

The philosopher Plato had an idea that subsequent thinkers called "idealism." They didn't mean that Mr. Plato was an idealist in the way we'd call Rosa Parks or Gandhi idealists: the term idealism referred to the concept that for everything in the world (trees, chairs, noses), there was an ideal form or version of that thing in the spiritual realm.

According to Plato's theory, the azalea bush in your front yard is simply a physical representation of the perfect Azalea Bush floating who-knows-where in the infinite void. While we don't want to start any kind of philosophical war here, that's kind of the idea we're going for in this category. The animals you'll encounter in these stories, coloring books, and reference volumes embody "horseness," "catness," and "dragon-ness."

After all, the image Fred Gipson paints of Old Yeller is just a bit too good to be true. Sure, many of us have had a favorite dog who could do no wrong in our forgiving eyes, but Old Yeller is like every awesome dog who ever lived rolled into one mangy mutt. Which is the whole point—by creating a slightly unrealistic portrait of an old doggy, Gipson is able to celebrate doghood itself.

In a culture that generally looks only at the way things sometimes appear to be, however, it's easy to value animals too highly. Sure, they deserve our attention and care as representatives of creation, but no more. The Creator who made them is the only One deserving all our praise, glory and love; the animals He's made are simply avenues through which to show our worship and gratitude.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Parent Categories

Just for Fun

Favorite Animals

Subcategories

- G&D Famous Dog Stories

- Hank the Cowdog

Dragons & Mythical Beasts

Elephant Books

Horses & Ponies

- G&D Famous Horse Stories

60 Items found Print

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3rd grade (Ages 8-9),

For Reading Aloud

	ABC Bunny by Wanda Gág from University of Minnesota Word Books for 1st-3rd grade 1934 Newbery Honor Book in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH) $12.71
	Ant and the Elephant by Bill Peet from Sandpiper Books Animal Fantasy for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.34
	Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.64
	Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond 50th Anniversary Edition from Houghton Mifflin Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Bear That Heard Crying by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock & Helen Kinsey from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79
	Billy and Blaze by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blaze and the Forest Fire by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blaze and the Gray Spotted Pony by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blaze and the Lost Quarry by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Blaze and the Mountain Lion by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blaze and Thunderbolt by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Blaze Finds the Trail by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blaze Finds the Trail by C. W. Anderson from Macmillan for 1st-3rd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Blaze Shows the Way by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Bonjour, Babar! The Six Unabridged Classics by the Creator of Babar by Jean De Brunhoff, introduction by Kevin Henkes from Random House Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Charlotte's Web by E. B. White from HarperCollins for 2nd-6th grade 1953 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.64 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Charlotte's Web by E. B. White from HarperCollins for 2nd-6th grade 1953 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Chester the Worldly Pig by Bill Peet from Houghton Mifflin Animal Fantasy for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Complete Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem from HarperCollins for Preschool-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $21.24
	Digging-est Dog by Al Perkins from Random House for Kindergarten-3rd Grade in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB) $8.49
	Doctor De Soto by William Steig from Square Fish Publishing Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1983 Newbery Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Dragon Used to Live Here by Annette LeBlanc Cate from Candlewick Press for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $15.29
	Dragons of Blueland My Father's Dragon Trilogy #3 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79
	Ella by Bill Peet from Houghton Mifflin Animal Fantasy for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Elmer and the Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #2 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79
	Elmer and the Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #2 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Encore for Eleanor by Bill Peet from Houghton Mifflin Animal Fantasy for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Floss by Kim Lewis from Candlewick Press Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99
	Horse and His Boy Chronicles of Narnia Book 3 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.64 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Horse and His Boy Chronicles of Narnia Book 5 by C. S. Lewis from Macmillan Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Horse and His Boy Chronicles of Narnia Book 5 by C. S. Lewis from Macmillan Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss from Random House read-aloud poetry picture book for Preschool-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss from Random House Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head by Bill Peet from Houghton Mifflin Animal Fantasy for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Littles by John Peterson from Scholastic Inc. Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.24 $2.40 (3 in stock)
	Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág from PaperStar Books Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1929 Newbery Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Mouse and the Motorcycle Mouse & the Motorcycle #1 by Beverly Cleary Reissue from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 2nd-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.49
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant from Harcourt Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	My Father's Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #1 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.76 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	My Father's Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #1 by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett and Helena Perez Garcia from Bushel & Peck Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	My Father's Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #1 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Dover Publications Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	My Father's Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #1 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Dover Publications Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	My Father's Dragon Trilogy by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $19.14
	Paddington Abroad by Michael Bond, illustrated by Peggy Fortnum Book Club Edition from Houghton Mifflin for 2nd-4th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges & Trina Schart Hyman from Little, Brown & Company Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-3rd grade 1985 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges & Trina Schart Hyman Fir from Little, Brown & Company Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 2nd-3rd grade 1985 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.14
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Henry Holt and Company Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Holt, Rinehart and Winston Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Trumpet Club Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.20 (1 in stock)
	Sophie's Lucky by Dick King-Smith from Candlewick Press in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Squire and the Scroll A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart by Jennie Bishop from Warner Press Allegories and Moral Stories for 2nd-5th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Stuart Little by E. B. White from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79
	The Egg by M. P. Robertson from Puffin Books Fantasy for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79
	Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Alexander Pertzoff from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $16.14
	Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, illustrated by William Nicholson from Avon Books Personification for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Velveteen Rabbit How Toys Become Real by Margery Williams, illustrated by Michael Green from Running Press Personification for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.31
	Velveteen Rabbit How Toys Become Real by Margery Williams, illustrated by Michael Green from Running Press Personification for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.80 (1 in stock)

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