Tag Archives: Animal Stories

Elem. – Sometimes We Fall

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De Seve, Randall. Sometimes We Fall. Illustrated by Kate Gardiner. Random House Studio. 978-0-593-64549-9. 32 p. $19.99. Grades K-3. 

A bear cub and its mother are exploring a grassy meadow when they come upon a tree full of ripe plums. The mother bear swiftly climbs the tree and settles herself in the branches among the juicy fruit. The cub wants to follow but is fearful about making the climb. What if it leaps for the branches and misses? What if it rains and its paws slip? What if the wind blows and the tree shakes? What if the branch breaks? For each scenario, the mother bear offers gentle reassurance, and eventually, the cub begins the climb. And, when things don’t go as planned, it’s still okay, thanks to mother’s encouragement. Soft gouache and colored pencil illustrations complement the spare text and capture the range of emotions the cub feels as it contemplates the benefits and drawbacks of taking a risk. 

THOUGHTS: This is a gentle story about courage, perseverance, and resilience that will be the perfect addition to social-emotional learning discussions. Students will relate to the idea of taking a risk and trying something hard, and they will be able to make connections when the cub’s adventure does not go as expected. 

Picture Book

Elem. – A Crocodile Should NEVER Skip Breakfast

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Larmour, Colleen. A Crocodile Should NEVER Skip Breakfast. Illustrated by Colleen Larmour. Kids Can Press, 2024. 978-1-525-30834-5. $19.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-1.

Because he is running late for his job as the river ferry, Croc has no time for breakfast and decides to grab donuts from Hippo Hut on his way to work. When he gets to Hippo Hut, however, he finds that they are sold out. The banana he brought along with him is rotten, and there are already passengers waiting when he arrives at work. Therefore, he must begin work hungry. All morning long, he dreams of donuts and other snacks. As the day drags on, he even begins to think about eating the passengers who are riding across the river on his back. Just when he thinks he can’t take it anymore, a friend appears with a tasty snack. Brightly colored illustrations add a humorous element to the story, giving readers insight into Croc’s desperate thoughts through the use of speech and thought bubbles.

THOUGHTS: Young children will love this goofy, cautionary tale about the importance of eating breakfast. Use it as a read-aloud during morning snack, or pair it with other books about breakfast, such as Maya Tatsukawa’s Sunday Pancakes (2022) or Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Pig a Pancake (1998).

Picture Book   

Elem. – A Bold Pumpkin Plan

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Hudson, Katy. A Bold Pumpkin Plan. Capstone Editions, 2024. 978-1-684-46903-1. 32 p. $18.99. Grades PreK-3.

This adorable animal book set in the Fall follows a shy Hedgehog in search of a new house, and he knows the perfect one – a pumpkin! The only trouble is that the pumpkin patch is rather far away, and there are many obstacles between it and the spot where he wants to build his home. Along the way, Hedgehog learns to accept help from various other forest friends – Mouse, Racoon, Frog, and Owl. Together, they work to navigate Hedgehog’s new house to the perfect spot.

THOUGHTS: I really adored the illustrations in the book as well as the journey Hedgehog took to not only get a house but also gain a family of friends, thus making a real home. This is a perfect addition to libraries looking for Autumnal stories.

Picture Book

Elem./MG – Operation Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond

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Walsh, Jenni L. Operation Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond. Zonderkidz, 2024. 978-0-310-15926-1. 240 p. $18.99. Grades 4-6.

In 1940, Jody and her military family are on the move to a small military base in Hawaii, known as Pearl Harbor. To help with all of her transitions, Jody creates Top Ten lists that she accomplishes with her retired and loyal dog, Happy. As the war starts to creep closer to her new home, Jody also begins to recognize that happy isn’t as young as he used to be, so she starts a new list, “Operation: Happy,” of things that they can enjoy together. But when the island is attacked and Jody’s life is rearranged, the Operation: Happy list becomes a way to help her cope and protect her family. Her father must stay behind on the island as Jody, her sister, mother, and Happy are evacuated to California. Things stay tough, as Jody navigates a new school and her mother’s crippling depression. Jody’s resilience shines as she continues to add and check things off of her Happy list.

THOUGHTS: A good introduction to World War II for upper elementary, although the descriptions of war get pretty intense and scary. Based on a real person’s memoir, it covers a wide range of topics without going too in-depth with many of them. The Zuber’s are a proud military family with sibling rivalry and sibling bonding. Some elements felt strange; the foreshadowing from the mother feels a bit heavy handed, a very brief surface view of xenophobia and Japanese internment camps, her older sister’s assault by a stranger and rescue by Happy, and the only one week tin collection campaign. The writing felt more modern but would be easier for younger audiences to approach it. Having the occasional chapter from Happy’s point of view helps to lighten up some of the tougher topics.

Historical Fiction

Elem. – If I Was a Horse

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Blackall, Sophie. If I Was a Horse. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 978-0-316-51098-1. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

What would your life look like if you were a horse? In this amusing, whimsical picture book, a young child imagines exactly what they’d do if they were a horse. Gorgeous illustrations depict a majestic horse interloping in various everyday scenarios, such as eating at the dinner table, refusing to take a bath, and parading through the living room. Each spread contains a simple, straightforward sentence or phrase describing these humorous scenarios. Imaginative and intelligible, this title is sure to spark some interesting discussions at story time.

THOUGHTS: This is another winner from two-time Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. Use it to kickstart imaginations and have children come up with their own creative storylines about life as an animal. Horse lovers will especially adore this book!

Picture Book

Elem. – Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness

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Gianferrari, Maria. Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness. Illustrated by Pete Oswald. Harper, 2022. 978-0-063-06791-2. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3.  

Dogs live in the moment, and this book draws readers in, encouraging them to share this same idea of living in and focusing on the present. Readers follow a young boy and his brown dog through the day as they focus on just ‘being.’ They rise in the morning, stretching to greet the day. They wag their bodies in outward shows of affection towards everyone they love. They play, nap, explore, then finally drop off to sleep. Along the way, the boy and the dog engage each of their senses, paying attention to the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes in the wide world around them. Cut paper and watercolor illustrations by Pete Oswald bring this story to life, capturing the pure joy the characters feel by living in the present and enjoying each new experience together. The final five pages of the book focus on mindfulness and how to really pay attention to the world around you using each of your senses. There are suggestions for what you can try to smell, hear, see, feel, and taste during each of the four seasons. The last page also discusses mindful breathing exercises you can try if you’re feeling sad or scared. 

THOUGHTS: This title will be a fun addition to social-emotional learning lessons, and it will also work well as a story to share during Morning Meetings. Share this one with your guidance counselor too. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Is This Your Class Pet?

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Cummings, Troy. Is This Your Class Pet? Random House. 978-0-593-43217-4. 36 p. $17.99. Grades K-3. 

Arfy the letter-writing dog is back, and in his third adventure, he’s volunteering at Butternut Elementary as a library helper! When he returns home after school, however, Arfy discovers a stowaway tucked into the pocket of his vest. He names the tiny green turtle Hidey and immediately emails a letter to the principal, asking if the turtle might be a class pet. When Arfy receives an out-of-office message, he takes matters into his own paws. He writes letters to each of the places he visited at school, asking if anyone is missing a turtle. He hears back from the lunchroom chefs, the physical education coach, and the art teacher, but no one claims Hidey. It’s only when he holds a video conference call and chats with a classroom of children that he finally figures out where Hidey truly belongs. 

THOUGHTS: This is a fun new epistolary story that models several different ways to compose friendly letters. Bright, bold illustrations feature diverse characters, and readers will relate to the many ways people communicate in the school, including handwritten letters, emails, virtual meetings, and chat sessions. This will be a fun story to share when introducing letter writing, and it will be enjoyed by classrooms who already have a class pet of their own. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – No Nibbling!

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Ferry, Beth. No Nibbling! Roaring Brook Press, 2022. 978-1-250-76241-2. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2.

Soon after Derwood the goat plants a garden, he finds a tiny bunny hanging around his vegetables. As his plants begin to grow, the bunny (Tabitha) keeps coming back and making comments filled with vegetable wordplay (for instance, saying “lettuce” instead of “let us,” “butternut” instead of “better not,” and “I yam” instead of “I am”). Derwood is incredibly protective of his plants; therefore, he is very grumpy at first and insists that Tabitha does not nibble his plants. However, he soon comes to appreciate Tabitha’s company and even allows her to weed the garden for him. Ultimately, he grants Tabitha’s wish and allows her to nibble on their bountiful harvest. 

THOUGHTS: This is an adorable, humorous tale of friendship. Children will find the characters endearing, and they will delight in all of the silly vegetable puns throughout the story. Use this to spark discussions about gardening and/or tending to friendships, which need to be cultivated much like a garden.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Elem. – I Cannot Draw a Horse

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Harper, Charise Mericle. I Cannot Draw a Horse. Union Square Kids, 2022. 978-1-454-94594-9. 48 p. $17.99. Grades PK-3.

In Charise Mericle Harper’s I Cannot Draw a Horse, a simple shape is turned into a cat, who DESPERATELY wants the author to draw it a horse. But the author cannot draw a horse, so she instead draws a variety of other creatures from the same shape, who then send the cat on a romp through the pages of the book. Fear not!  Charise Mericle Harper is nearby with her pencil to draw helpful features like hills and skateboards, all which develop the story. At the end, cat is delighted when the author realizes she CAN draw it the horse of its dreams.

THOUGHTS: In addition to being a fun read-aloud that will make readers laugh through its pages, the illustrations in I Cannot Draw a Horse will encourage readers to try their hand at creating characters as well. The message is straightforward: Anyone can draw…if they only try! This book will provide young artists the inspiration and confidence they need simply to TRY (and succeed!). Recommended for anyone looking to add humor and art themes to their collection.

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

MG – Cress Watercress

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Maguire, Gregory. Cress Watercress. Candlewick Press, 2022. 978-1-536-21100-9. $19.99. 227 p. Grades 3-8.

Cressida Watercress and her rabbit family live in a spacious and well kept burrow. Young Cress has never known a moment’s want or worry until the day Papa fails to return from foraging. Unable to care for her young children alone, Mama makes the difficult decision to move her  family to a cramped basement apartment in an animal tenement known as the Broken Arms. Cressida’s brother Kip is often sickly, and Mama must work harder than ever to feed, shelter, and support Cress and Kip. The Broken Arms is filled with animal characters of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. Mr. Owl, the landlord, is an enigmatic figure who will often comment on the comings and goings and behavior of his tenants from high above though he is never seen by those same tenants. Manny, the building superintendent, is helpful but demanding. The pressure to make timely rent payments is difficult for Mama, especially when Kip is not well. Cress must learn to accept and understand her new neighbors, and must step-up to help Mama. Growing up is not easy, especially when dealing with childhood grief. As Cress matures, her relationship with her mother becomes strained at times, and she grapples with friendships just as many tween human children do. Eventually the Watercress family finds great comfort and companionship in the community at Broken Arms, and Cress finds herself in a position to save the day when her newly adopted community is threatened.

THOUGHTS: Beautiful illustrations by David Litchfield set the tone for this coming of age novel. The struggles Cress encounters in her relationship with her mother and her friends will be easily recognized by middle grade readers and adults alike. The depiction of childhood grief is especially well characterized in this warm and gentle story.

Animal Fiction          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD
Realistic Fiction