Post by Justine C
When you think of great animal literature, you probably think of Old Yeller and Where
the Red Fern Grows. It’s very likely you’ve also heard of Marley & Me and A Dog’s Purpose,
but there are so many more stories featuring animals (fiction and non) that you may not
have had the pleasure of reading yet.
It’s not just a dog’s world anymore as Americans
are turning to a larger variety of animals for companionship, from tropical fish to owls!
I’ve devised a list of a few lesser known titles featuring animals that might pique your
interest. I’m hoping that you’ll be so eager to check them out, you’ll run straight to your
closest branch of the Aurora Public Library!
It was the title of this book that caught my eye, as the only book I’ve ever read
featuring an owl was Hoot back in the fifth grade. Owls are beautiful and
mysterious creatures that we rarely interact with due to their nocturnal nature
and tendency not to live in areas highly populated by people. It’s even rarer to
encounter a book like this about them, especially as pets or companion animals.
Biologist Stacey O’Brien recounts in this semi-autobiographical tale her
two-decade adventure with a barn owl named Wesley, whom she rescued when
he was a newborn injured owlet. While I don’t recommend you go out and try to
adopt an owl (as I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to own owls in Aurora!), you can have
the next best thing by reading this touching story of an owl and his human.
Another book featuring a beloved bird, Alex & Me tells the story of an African Gray
parrot and the special bond he shares with psychologist Irene Pepperberg. If you’ve
heard of the famous African Gray parrot Einstein, you know how intelligent and fun
this particular breed of bird can be and will love reading about Alex and Irene’s
shenanigans as they proved that some animals have the ability to communicate and
understand complex ideas.
Cats are one of the most popular pets in the United States. Due to their small stature
and independent nature, cat owners tend to own multiple cats in the household which is
why statistically they are more popular than dogs, with 88.3 million cats as pets versus
74.8 million dogs. Whether you’re a dog lover or a cat lover, it goes without saying that
there aren’t enough books out there featuring felines, which is why the next title on our
list is A Street Cat Named Bob​. London-based author James Bowen writes about his
special bond with a stray cat he saves off the street--and how Bob in turn saved him. In
the UK alone this book has sold over 1 million copies and has even been turned into a
feature-length film, which we also have for you to check out here at the library! And
wouldn’t you like to know the real Bob played himself in the movie?Talk about a smart
cat!
If you have a child or young adult in your life who would love to read about Bob but
without the more graphic backstory involving the author’s difficult life, you can check
out My Name is Bob, which tells the story from Bob’s perspective in this beautifully
illustrated book for children!
Yes, this one is about a dog. But I would be remiss to exclude all literature featuring
pooches. They’re popular and beloved for a reason, and it can be even harder to find
books about them when you’re trying to find something new to read because of how
many classics are out there. This 2016 book, unlike the others on our list, is suitable for
younger ages, isn’t based on a true story, and features a female companion animal for a
change. It isn’t your typical “a dog and his boy” tale either, although it is about a dog
and her boy. The catch is, Maxi is deaf. Timminy is determined to help his special needs
dog, but as dogs often do, Maxi ends up helping him navigate the difficulties of fifth
grade and learn that life isn’t all that bad.
Unlikely Friendships is a bit different from the others on our list as it doesn’t feature just
one animal and its bond with a human, but rather several animals and their bonds with
other species. This in-depth look into interspecies animal friendship is sure to tug at the
heartstrings and features beautiful full color candid photographs of the odd pairs. From
cats and dogs to calves and leopards, all the notable odd couples of the animal kingdom
are explored expertly by National Geographic writer Jennifer S. Holland.
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