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Animal Stories: Realistic

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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76 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), Trade Paperback
Angel Knew Papa and the Dog
by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
from Rabbit Room Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$11.04
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
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
Ginger Pye
by Eleanor Estes
from Harcourt
Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
1952 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$6.79
Hank the Cowdog #01
Hank the Cowdog #1
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94 $3.60 (1 in stock)
Hank the Cowdog #02
Hank the Cowdog #2
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #03
Hank the Cowdog #3
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #04
Hank the Cowdog #4
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #05
Hank the Cowdog #5
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #06
Hank the Cowdog #6
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #07
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #08
Hank the Cowdog #8
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #08
Hank the Cowdog #8
by John R. Erickson
from Puffin Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
Hank the Cowdog #09
Hank the Cowdog #9
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #10
Hank the Cowdog #10
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #11
Hank the Cowdog #11
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #12
Hank the Cowdog #12
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #13
Hank the Cowdog #13
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.09
Hank the Cowdog #13
by John R. Erickson
Reissue from Puffin Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
Hank the Cowdog #14
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #15
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #16
Hank the Cowdog #16
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #17
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #18
Hank the Cowdog #18
by John R. Erickson
Reprint from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #19
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
Hank the Cowdog #20
by John R. Erickson
from Maverick Books
for 2nd-5th grade
in Hank the Cowdog (Location: SER-HANK)
$5.94
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 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
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 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
Pelts & Promises
by Nancy Lohr
from Bob Jones University Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Tenth Good Thing About Barney
by Judith Viorst
1st 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
War Horse
by Michael Morpurgo
from Scholastic Press
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.79
Ways of Wood Folk
by William Joseph Long
from CreateSpace
for 2nd-6th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$11.99
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)
White Stallion of Lipizza
by Marguerite Henry
Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 2nd-5th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.79
Wild Horses of Sweetbriar
by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
1st edition from Dutton Children's Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
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