I've been trying to read all 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up for about twenty years, and I've managed to read 799 of the books on the list thus far.
A surprising number of these stories are about humans and their animal companions. I found forty.
What kinds of animal companions are in these stories? Almost half are about dogs (15). Horses are also popular (8). Three stories are about pigs. There are two stories about cats, two stories about bears, and two stories about wolves. And there is one story each about less common pets: a rat, a penguin, a crocodile, a monkey, a cricket, a donkey, a mouse, a lion, and a deer.
Warning! Warning! Warning! These animals may or may not die by the end of the book.
Note: If you are looking for a good story for children with animals, you might like something I've listed below.
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey (bear)
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (dog)
The Lion by Joseph Kessel (lion)
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara (horse)
The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (deer)
White Fang by Jack London (wolf)
I hope that a great many of these are books that are familiar to you.
If not, it's never too late to read these.
Some of my animal posts from the past you might like to check out:
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
Oh wow! Lots of picks here! Figured there would be more in childrens' books! But if there's any animal deaths in books I try to avoid them. It's hard knowing when one pops up in my usual reads if they make it out okay. I can only hope that they do! And I feel like they do for the most part.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I used to love The Incredible Journey! And I had forgotten all about Mr. Popper's Penguins. Great picks! Here is my TTT: https://thissideofstoryland.blogspot.com/2025/05/top-ten-tuesday-books-with-animal-main.html
ReplyDeleteI just know you’re going to read the last few hundred of those books. 799 so far is impressive! Thanks for stopping by earlier.
ReplyDeletewow, what a list! I have only 7. I can't believe I haven't read Steinbeck's yet!
ReplyDeletehttps://wordsandpeace.com/2025/05/27/top-ten-books-with-animals/
I still have our old copies of Harry the Dirty Dog and Clifford. Memories...
ReplyDeleteI see a few that I'd like to read. My husband's favorite book when he was a child was Old Yeller.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! So many classic stories. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, so many of these are amazing throwbacks! I can recall bawling my eyes out reading some of these books when I was a kid. I'd probably react the same way now, too! You've read so many books off the list—how amazing! Great post :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not only impressed you've read this many but that you are able to break them down, too! I remember some of those as favorites!
ReplyDeleteThese are such good book choices!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere the Red Fern Grows. Grab your hankies! I think it is time for a reread.
ReplyDeleteOh!! I hoped someone would do children's books. I love the James Herriot books for children as well as I do the adult ones. You've got some of my family's favorite books here: Harry the Dirty Dog, Carl the gentle Rottweiler, Curious George, Clifford, Mr Popper, the Black Stalion, Marguerite Henry's wonderful books, so many great books here! Thank you! I loved this!
ReplyDeleteBlack Beauty is my youth!
ReplyDeleteI am not familiar with so many of these.. but I spot some old time favs as well. Great books.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read many of these, but I loved Black Beauty and Charlotte's Web as a child!
ReplyDeleteBen about the rat, was my favorite animal companion story when I was a kid. Some of these are great.
ReplyDeleteSeeing Clifford, George, and Ralph bring back so many memories.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/animal-farm-ten-books-with-animals-on-the-cover/
I've read several and enjoyed them. Animal stories are among my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI remember many of those fondly. I think the first one of them that I actually read myself (as a child) was "Millions of Cats." Perhaps it was a preview of my future!
ReplyDeleteWhat about Dumbo? what about the Poky Little Puppy? what about Peter Rabbit? or the Velveteen rabbit? So many books! I loved Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
ReplyDeleteThose are all wonderful classic stories, but none of them (hmmm...except maybe Peter Rabbit?) are on the 1001 Children's Books list.
DeleteWhat a nostalgic post! I've read about 20 of these, I think.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
So many good choices! I love animals in books, but I do try to avoid any books where the animal dies. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list, Deb. I have read 22 of these over the years. Old Yeller always makes me cry.
ReplyDeleteI loved Shiloh, Julie of the Wolves, and Island of the Blue Dolphins when I was a kid. :)
ReplyDeleteWow!! 799 of the 1001.. I know I am going to work towards this goal as well (and you sent me your list a while ago, so thank you again).. Of the ones here, I have read about 20 of them
ReplyDelete