Animal Stories: Realistic

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Realistic animal stories are usually more about the humans involved than about the animals. This isn't always true (London's Call of the Wild is a notable exception), but anyone who's read The Yearling, James Herriot's 5-volume memoir, or most of Marguerite Henry's books knows that the main characters are people, and the animals are the primary concern of those characters.

That's not to suggest that the animals are incidental, just that what readers are supposed to take away aren't simply facts about horses or dogs, but what all good literature offers, insight and commentary on the human condition. The reason we like stories involving animals so much is that humans and their furry companions are able to forge unique bonds predicated on innocence and loyalty that rarely exist in strictly human relationships.

What sets realistic animal stories apart from fantasy animal stories is that the animals in them are real animals, not talking, clothes-wearing, pipe-smoking people in animal costumes. Dogs bark, horses gallop, cows give birth to calves (it happens a lot in Yorkshire, apparently), and the world is very much as we experience and know it to be.

Children are particularly drawn to these stories, not because they like animals more than adults do, but because their imaginations still recognize everything as fair game. Animal tales show the world from an often unfamiliar perspective, and the appeal is especially great for those whose own perspective is still largely unformed.

A lot of these make great read-alouds for really young kids, or good books for budding readers to practice on their own. Just because they're in the kids' fiction section doesn't mean they're only intended for children, either, and plenty of adults are still as much into animal novels as they were thirty years ago. Our selection is intentionally broad, and steadily growing—we may or may not be included in that last group.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and 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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Animal Stories: Realistic

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1st grade (Ages 6-7),

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	Angus Lost by Marjorie Flack from Farrar, Straus and Giroux Animal Realistic for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward from Sandpiper Books Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade 1953 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $10.19 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	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) $8.49
	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) $8.49
	Blaze Finds the Trail by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blaze Shows the Way by C. W. Anderson from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Capyboppy by Bill Peet from Sandpiper Books Non-fiction for 1st-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Don't Frighten the Lion! by Margaret Wise Brown from Random House for 1st-3rd 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) $7.64
	Fritz and the Beautiful Horses by Jan Brett Reprint from HMH Books for Young Readers for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Hanna's Cold Winter by Trish Marx & Barbara Knutson from Purple House Press for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $10.16
	Harry and the Lady Next Door An I Can Read Book Level 1 by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.09
	Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle from Scholastic Inc. in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (2 in stock)
	Lassie Come-Home (adapted) by Rosemary Wells F from Henry Holt and Company for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake Mr. Putter and Tabby #3 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.94
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold Mr. Putter and Tabby #11 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Clear the Decks Mr. Putter and Tabby #19 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Dance the Dance Mr. Putter and Tabby #21 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Drop the Ball Mr. Putter and Tabby #22 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09 $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Feed the Fish Mr. Putter and Tabby #10 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane Mr. Putter and Tabby #5 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books Animal Stories: Realistic for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Hit the Slope Mr. Putter and Tabby #25 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Paint the Porch Mr. Putter and Tabby #9 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears Mr. Putter and Tabby #4 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea Mr. Putter and Tabby #1 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Harcourt Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea I Can Read Level 3 #1 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Ring the Bell Mr. Putter and Tabby #20 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Run the Race Mr. Putter and Tabby #17 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby See the Stars Mr. Putter and Tabby #16 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.94
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Smell the Roses Mr. Putter and Tabby #24 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill the Beans Mr. Putter and Tabby #18 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup Mr. Putter and Tabby #12 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Toot the Horn Mr. Putter and Tabby #7 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Turn the Page Mr. Putter and Tabby #23 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book Mr. Putter and Tabby #13 by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard from Clarion Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	No Roses for Harry! by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79
	Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen from Aladdin Paperbacks New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $8.49
	Our First Pony by Marguerite Henry from Rand McNally for 1st-3rd grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-3rd grade in Alphabet & Counting Books (Location: PIC-ALPH) $5.94
	Owl Babies by Martin Waddell from Candlewick Press for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79
	Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst 1^st edition from Atheneum for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Three Dollar Mule by Clyde Robert Bulla from Troll Associates for 1st-3rd grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Thy Friend, Obadiah by Brinton Turkle from Beautiful Feet Books Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1970 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.46
	What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page from Houghton Mifflin for Preschool- 3rd Grade 2004 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock 1^st edition from Dutton Children's Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen from Aladdin Paperbacks in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)

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