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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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127 Items found Print
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Active Filters: 2nd grade (Ages 7-8), 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)
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
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
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
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)
By Pond and River
Eyes and No Eyes #2
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Yesterday's Classics
for 2nd-5th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$11.86
By Pond and River
Eyes and No Eyes #2
by Arabella B. Buckley
from Living Book Press
for 2nd-5th grade
in Living Science (Location: SCI-CMLS)
$6.79
Capyboppy
by Bill Peet
from Sandpiper Books
Non-fiction for 1st-6th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.49
Escape Artist
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
Flip
by Wesley Dennis
from Scholastic Book Services
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Floss
by Kim Lewis
from Candlewick Press
Realistic Animal Stories for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$7.64
Forest Folk
by Mary & Conrad Buff
Fifth Printing, 1967 from Viking Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$6.40 (1 in stock)
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
Gorilla Baby
by Pearl Wolf
from Scholastic Book Services
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$2.40 (1 in stock)
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 #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 #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
Harry the Dog books
by Gene Zion
from HarperCollins
Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$28.01
Henry and Mudge
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
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)
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)
Mishmash
by Molly Cone, illustrated by Leonard Shortall
3rd printing from Houghton Mifflin
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
$2.40 (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)
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
Owls in the Family
by Farley Mowat
from Yearling
Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$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)
Pinky Pye
by Eleanor Estes
from Harcourt
Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$8.49
Pioneer Cat
by William H. Hooks
from Random House
Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$5.09
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
Plain Proverbs Book #1
by Martin D. Carlson
1st edition from BoCook Publishing
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Clearance: Picture Books (Location: ZCLE-PIC)
$14.41
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
by Rudyard Kipling
from William Morrow & Company
Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$16.99
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
by Rudyard Kipling, adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
2004 Paperback from HarperTrophy
Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.49
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