Books with Animals as the Main Characters

[Kandice]

Me too! I did't know there were sequels. I love the movie, too.

[Kathy]

I haven't seen it yet. It's coming from Netflix probably tomorrow. I actually just read the book last summer. (I love kids books! lol) I would love sequels.....

[Michelle]

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DeCamillo is a very sweet story.

[Ray]

My sister is reading Warriors. Have any of you guys read that seris? If you have, was it any good? I might read it someday... at sometime..... im someworld................... LoL

[Ray]

Laterz!!!!!!!

[Robin]

The Movie Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM is charming - Dom Deluise does a great job as the crow. The animation was the first done by Don Bluth Studios and is very well done. It is an enchanting "must see movie".

[Cathy]

I loved the NIMH movie, too. The book is a bit different, but still so charming and wonderful. As for the sequels, the original author's daughter wrote 2 additional books. I haven't read them yet, but they're on my list! Her name is Jane Leslie Conly.

[Jenny]

I'm reading The Dark Portal Deptford Mice Trilogy, Robin Jarvis. Which is book 1 of the deptford mice trilogy. It's all about mice and rats and a few bats (wow that rhymed). I read it as a child and managed to get hold of it again recently! It's quite dark for a kiddies book. One rat has a mouse peeler as a hand ha ha!

[Pamela]

Trish wrote: "Has anyone else come across Three Bags Full, by Leonie Swann, a mystery where the detectives are... a herd of sheep. Sounds wonderful, but haven't had a chance to read it yet."

I have it but haven't read it yet. Started it at one point and it was very Miss Marplish and sort of funny (reminded me a lot of Babe too). Hope to pick it up again at some point, it just wasn't what I was looking for at the time.

[Katie]

I LOVE The Sight, Morgan! It's one my sisters and my favorite books.

Fiona - I was actually going to recommend The Sight to you(if you haven't read it) because I saw that you seemed to like the animals as main characters genre. It's such a powerful novel. The main characters are wolves, and it's an interesting look into the family dynamics of a wolf pack. It's definitely worth checking out.

[Michelle]

Has anyone mentioned The Underneath yet? That's one of my daughter's favorites.

[Michael (Mai)]

jzhunagev wrote: "I read "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" and he is one of the great animal protagonist in my recent reading experience.
Another one is "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, a very powerful satire.
"

I remember reading Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, and thinking to myself: "I can't believe I'm reading a book about a seagull" then later "I can't believe I enjoyed a book about a seagul"

[Josie]

Jenny, I think I've read all the Deptford Mice books, including the two 'histories' which are set before the series (The Alchemist's Cat The Deptford Histories Book 1, and The Oaken Throne Book Two of the Deptford Histories) - I must say I found them all quite creepy, they have such a dark mood to them!
Has anyone heard of the Silver Brumby books? They're Australian, so you probably haven't, but I was obsessed with those when I was younger! Elyne Mitchell is the author, she also wrote The Man From Snowy River.

[Vicki]

I love all of the Cat Who books.Dr Doolittle also comes to mind.

[April]

I love so many of the books mentioned here, Redwall, the Sight, The Wind in The Willows.
If you enjoyed The Sight, you should check out Firebringer and Fell by David Clement-Davies.

Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams has an animal as a main character. I haven't read Williams yet, but he seems to have a decent ranking on GR.

[JG (Introverted Reader)]

April, I own Tailchaser's Song, but it's probably been 15 years since I read it. I think I liked it though.

Josie, I couldn't tell you how many times I've watched the movie of The Man From Snowy River. Is the book good? I didn't know there was a book!

[Josie]

Well JG, it's been a while, but I believed I liked it at the time! I think it was fairly similar to the movie?

[Liz]

Currently trying hard to get into "Dog On It" - a mystery with the dog as a vital part of the private investigator "team". Not sure I'll make it past CD # 1, but ...

[Colleen]

How could anyone forget Animal Farm? What a fantastic classic read!

[Alexandra]

I've read several, including the Redwall Series (most of it anyway, there's so many!), and The Mistmantle Chronicles (starts with Urchin of the Riding Stars), but one of my favorites is the Firekeeper Saga (starts with Through Wolf's Eyes). One of the main characters is a wolf, and the other is a human raised by intelligent wolves, who thinks of herself as one. The deeper you get into the series the more animal characters there are. Really excellent reads, all of them. You should check them out. =)

[Kritika]

I've read practically every Redwall book under the sun! Go Redwall!!
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was awesome too. I think I've read one of the sequels:don't remember what it was called.
I want to read Watership Down and Animal Farm if I can get my hands on them...

[Colleen]

I LOVED "The Secret of Nimh" when I was a little girl!

[Liz]

Michelle wrote: "Has anyone mentioned The Underneath yet? That's one of my daughter's favorites."

I started listening to this on CD as I drove to work, but couldn't get into it ... why is it your daughter's favorite? Maybe she can tempt a grandmother to try again!

[Liz]

Haven't seen "Black Stallion" mentioned yet - another REALLY old selection is "Beautiful Joe" by Marshall Saunders. (My copy has a preface by Hezekiah Butterworth, 1893.)

[Fallon]

For the Australians here - Blinky Bill. When i was in my teens i read and old copy of my grand mothers with some beautiful illustrations.

[[deleted user]]

Horton hears a who

[Paula]

The Art of Racing in the Rain

[Dani]

Watership Down and the Warriors series

[Dani]

my
computer isn't working right

[Liz]

Paula wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

One of my favorite books of 2008! ;o)

[Marsha]

April wrote: "Tailchaser's Song by Tad Williams has an animal as a main character. I haven't read Williams yet, but he seems to have a decent ranking on GR. "

Tailchaser's Song is great, as is everything I've read by Tad Williams.

[Kate]

I just adore Charlotte's Web. I reread it every so often and still cry at the end.

And Bunnicula - actually, I preferred The Celery Stalks at Midnight. Cute title and it was my favorite of the series.

[Carly]

There's a tapeworm in Irvine Welsh's book Filth. Not a main character, but still kinda entertaining.

[Brenda]

Bird wrote: "I read The Art of Racing in the Rain over the summer and absolutely adored..."

I liked this book also. I have recommended this book to many people at the bookstore.

[Paula]

Liz wrote: "Paula wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

One of my favorite books of 2008!

Mine too Liz. I passed it on to my Mom and my Daughter who both loved it also.

[Vicki]

Paula wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

I just bought this in audio and can't wait to start it.

[Paula]

Vicki wrote: "Paula wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

I just bought this in audio and can't wait to start it.

Be sure and don't listen to it in the car on the last CD! LOL I had to sit in a parking lot for a while to compose myself.

[Liz]

Paula wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Paula wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

I just bought this in audio and can't wait to start it.

Be sure and don't listen to it in the car on the last CD! LOL I had to sit in a ..."

Me too - in fact, there were a few times I had to consider pulling over to do just that! Not sure if any of you have read "Marley and Me", but I thought Stein's book was far better! ;o)

[Paula]

Liz wrote: "Paula wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Paula wrote: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

I just bought this in audio and can't wait to start it.

Be sure and don't listen to it in the car on the last CD! LOL I ha...

I agree and I loved Marley.

[Nancy]

"Animal Farm"

[Robin]

Colleen wrote: "How could anyone forget [Animal Farm"

Ya I was thinking that myself - it definitely is a great book.

[ScottK]

I just wanted to come and tout my love of Watership Down as well as Plague Dogs ( although plague dogs is a bit more saddening, and The Wind in the Willows. I just added Dragonhaven, and the mole one to my TBR list thanks !! ( Jeez more books .....)

[Liz]

Finally finished "Dog On It" a mystery narrated by Chet, the dog. Interesting concept, cute for a quick read. But the sequels? NO!

[Nancy]

Did anyone mention ANIMAL FARM? This was one of the highlights of high school for me, and it still has plenty of relevance.

[Josie]

Yes, in fact several people have mentioned Animal Farm (jzhunagev, Colleen, Robin, and yourself, four messages earlier).
Babe The Gallant Pig and Daggie Dogfoot, both by Dick King-Smith are great kids reads, both from the point of view of...pigs.
And I second 101 Dalmations - hilarious book: "Let them eat coke"!

[Mir]

Mary Stanton wrote a series from the POV of horses, back in the 80s. I only read the middle one, Piper at the Gate. I seem to remember liking it, but that was 20 years ago!

[Deepest_blue]

"A Mouse called Wolf", I loved reading stories where the main characters were animals when I was little and this was one of my favorites. It's about a mouse that learns to play the piano. Then Despereaux, which I know I was probably way too old to read but it was just too cute to pass up. And I can't believe no one has mentioned "Johnathan Livingston Seagull"....

[Judy]

Rita Mae Brown wrote many books with animal characters, such at least 15 "Wish You Were Here (1st in the Mrs Murphy series)" and "Outfoxed (1st in the Sister Jane series".

[Judy]

In case they weren't mentioned, Dragons as main characters:

"The Dragon Riders of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey
"His Majesty's Dragon (Book 1 in the Temeraire series)" by Naomi Novik -- I'm just finishing this one
"Eragon" and others by Christopher Paolini

[Ben]

The Bear Comes Home by Rafi Zabor! it's a serious grown-up but very funny and fantastical novel about a saxophone-playing bear. zabor is a for-real jazz musician and it's the best book i've ever read about the experience of playing music. plus it's about a bear!