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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In-Stock Books & Materials

	Akiak by Robert J. Blake from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Angus Lost by Marjorie Flack from Farrar, Straus and Giroux Animal Realistic for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	April's Kittens by Claire Turlay Newberry from Troll Publishing for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	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
	Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Realistic Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1949 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey from Viking Press Realistic Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1949 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.84
	Bonny's Big Day by James Herriot from St. Martin's Press for 1st-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Bravest Dog Ever The True Story of Balto Step Into Reading Level 3 by Natalie Standiford from Random House Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP) $5.09
	Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.; illustrated by Eric Carle Second Edition, 25th Anniversary Edition from Henry Holt and Company for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.; illustrated by Eric Carle Second Edition, 25th Anniversary Edition from Henry Holt and Company for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Capyboppy by Bill Peet from Sandpiper Books Non-fiction for 1st-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49
	Escape Artist A True Story of Octopus Adventure by Thor Hanson, illustrated by Galia Bernstein from Greenwillow Books for Preschool-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.99
	Finders Keepers by Will and Nicholas Reissue from Houghton Mifflin for Kindergarten-4th grade 1952 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.95
	Five O'Clock Charlie by Marguerite Henry, illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $11.89
	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
	Gorilla Baby The Story of Patty Cake by Pearl Wolf from Scholastic Book Services for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	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
	Harry the Dog books by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $28.01
	Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle from Scholastic Inc. in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (2 in stock)
	Henry and Mudge The First Book of Their Adventures by Cynthia Rylant from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R) $5.09
	Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble The Second Book of Their Adventures by Cynthia Rylant from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R) $4.24
	Henry Explores the Jungle by Mark Taylor, illustrated by Graham Booth Anniversary from Purple House Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44
	Henry Explores the Mountains by Mark Taylor, illustrated by Graham Booth Anniversary from Purple House Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44
	Henry the Explorer by Mark Taylor, illustrated by Graham Booth 45th Anniversary Edition from Purple House Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Henry the Explorer by Mark Taylor, illustrated by Graham Booth from Purple House Press for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44
	I'll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm from Scholastic Inc. for Nursery-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Jolly Barnyard by Annie North Bedford 1^st edition from Golden Books for Preschool-1st grade in Little Golden Books (Location: PIC-GOLD) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1942 Caldecott Medal winner in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $9.34
	Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey from Viking Press Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1942 Caldecott Medal winner in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $16.99
	Market Square Dog by James Herriot from St. Martin's Press for Kindergarten-5th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	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 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 Spin the Yarn Mr. Putter and Tabby #15 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 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 More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman from Little, Brown & Company for 1st-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64
	No Roses for Harry! by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79
	Only One Woof by James Herriot, illustrated by Peter Barrett from St. Martin's Press Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	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
	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
	Pioneer Cat by William H. Hooks from Random House Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.09
	Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by Jane Thayer, Illustrated by Lisa McCue from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool-1st grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Rain Talk by Mary Serfozo from Margaret K. McElderry Books for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Rfaud Tastes Wisdom A Tale of ASWAN—African Survival Wisdom's Antelope Narrative Plain Proverbs Book #1 by Martin D. Carlson 1^st edition from BoCook Publishing for Preschool-3rd grade in Clearance: Picture Books (Location: ZCLE-PIC) $14.41
	Salty Sails North by Gloria Rand, illustrated by Ted Rand from Henry Holt and Company for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack from Grosset & Dunlap Animal Realistic for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.09
	Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf from Puffin Books Animal Stories for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64
	Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf from Viking Press Animal Stories for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $15.29
	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)
	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
	Thy Friend, Obadiah (hardcover) by Brinton Turkle from Beautiful Feet Books Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1970 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $12.71
	Tippy Lemmey by Patricia McKissack from Aladdin Paperbacks for 1st-5th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.09
	Tornado by Betsy Byars from HarperCollins for 1st-5th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $5.94
	What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page from Houghton Mifflin for Preschool- 3rd Grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Where the Buffaloes Begin by Olaf Baker from Dover Publications for Preschool-2nd grade 1982 Caldecott Honor Book in Native American History (Location: HISA-19NAT) $13.56
	Wild Life in Woods and Fields Eyes and No Eyes #1 by Arabella B. Buckley from Yesterday's Classics for 1st-4th grade in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS) $11.86 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Wild Life in Woods and Fields Eyes and No Eyes #1 by Arabella B. Buckley from Living Book Press for 1st-4th grade in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS) $6.79
	Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George from Dutton Juvenile for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	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)
	Young Kangaroo by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Jennifer Dewey from Hyperion Books for Children for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Young Kangaroo by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Symeon Shimin from William R. Scott Inc. for Preschool-2nd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $8.00 (1 in stock)

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