Animals are so cute and adorable and books about animals are so fun to read so we put together a list of our favorite nonfiction books for animal lovers.
Most of us enjoy watching cute animal videos. Dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pandas, and I could go on and on are just adorable.
They can be funny, sweet, and just make for a great relief from the stresses of the day.
We also love that there have been just so many different famous animals that should still be remembered.
Many of them have tragic stories or parts of their stories.
However, fiction also creates tears over animals as Where the Red Fern Grows is one of the first books I wept over.
Nonfiction stories have just another level of cuteness sometimes because they were real. They actually happened, and we get to experience a part of this in reading their stories.
The real-life part though can also make them a little sad because the pain actually happened, but even with some sad parts, I still find reading these stories important and fun. I hope you do too.
These books would also make a gift for the friend or loved one on your gift list that loves animal stories.
Nonfiction Books About Animals
Dewey
I have gifted Dewey to a cat loving friend. She has three cats, and I knew she would love to read about a famous library cat. This is part memoir but also part cuteness talking about a little cat that became a king of a library.
The Dog Who Could Fly
The Dog Who Could Fly will always be a favorite for me. Ant, the dog and main star of the story, has an amazing tale. He was rescued by a soldier name Robert Bozdech who had been shot down over enemy territory and snuck into England. Ant then went onto fly with his owner over Germany.
Ant would even get injured during combat.
However he survived the war, and it really is an amazing story of a bond between a dog and his owner while exploring a lesser told side of World War II.
The Eighty-Dollar Champion
The Eighty-Dollar Champion has to be on the list. It is about a horse bought cheaply at an auction that became a renowned jumper.
Elizabeth Letts did a great job of writing the book. It is also just a fascinating story not only about Snowman the horse but also its owner and America at that time.
All Creatures Great and Small
I can’t go making a list of animal stories without James Herriot. All Creatures Great and Small is just a good book. It has some language and graphic elements. It is also humorous. It explores being a vet in England in the mid-1900s.
There are so many animals in the book. They range from cute to ornery. The owners can also cause humor and just a sweet story that easy to read over a few weeks or months because of the chapters dealing with different vet visits.
Flash: The Homeless Donkey
Flash The Homeless Donkey is such an adorable book. Flash, the odd donkey, creates a lot of laughs and frowns. He is quite the character and helps the main character realize many things throughout the book.
Thunder Dog
Thunder Dog is a true story of a blind man and his guide dog. This book creates a good perspective on what people were experiencing on 9/11. It is also a good look at how it is to be blind and use a guide dog to help you navigate life. This is a good book for teens and adults.
The Ride of Her Life
Yes, another Elizabeth Letts book is on the list. The Ride of Her Life is the story of Anne Wilkins, who in 1954, was given only a few years to live.
With only a short time to live she decided to totally change her life. She left her Maine farm with her horse and dog and set off to ride across America.
What are your favorite animal stories? We would love to hear about them in the comments.
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