Animal stories for older readers

Friends Jasmine and Tom spot a baby otter alone on the riverbank and decide to help and name her Pebble. This heartwarming tale of hope, kindness and determination will delight young independent readers with an interest in wildlife. 

When Farmer Hogget wins a piglet at the fair, he is amazed that Fly, his sheep-dog, welcomes him as one of her own pups.

When Lizzie spots a suspicious man stealing a puppy from a garden, she’s determined to investigate! An engaging illustrated early reader book, this is the first in the series to feature Lizzie (who is deaf) and Lucky the dog.

All Hal wants for his birthday is a dog and when he is given one he is overjoyed. But when Hal realises Fleck was only his for the weekend, he sets off on an adventure with the dog…

Devastated by her parents’ death, Maxine is sent to South Africa and a grandmother she didn’t know existed. When she glimpses the legendary white giraffe one night, the connection between them is instantaneous.

A dog’s‑eye view of the world is firmly at the centre of this wonderful, life-affirming tale set in Britain in 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.  

Against the backdrop of a stunning South Asian landscape, three youngsters are on the run from the King’s guards – on an elephant! With themes of morality, friendship, teamwork and loyalty, this exciting adventure book also has lots of tension and jeopardy.

Rebel the dog must track down his friend Tom before Tom and his rebel friends clash with the King’s army. A thrilling adventure for all animal lovers, told in Rebel’s voice. 

Steven Spielberg enjoyed this story so much, he turned into a film. Joey is a young farm horse, sold to the army at the beginning of the First World War. Through his eyes, the reader experiences the devastation of the Western Front, his capture by Germans and entrapment in No Man’s Land.

When her alcoholic mother is unable to take care of her, 11-year-old Addie moves in with a long-term foster family on a remote working farm. However, desperate to return to her mum, Addie is determined that she will not stay for long.

One of a series of standalone stories about children growing up in the countryside by Nicola Davies and illustrated in pencil by Cathy Fisher, A Boy’s Best Friend is a fantastic, short read about an outdoorsy boy who loves animals but finds school difficult. 

As a child, Marv Jackson survived a polar bear attack on a frozen river – and when he hears about ice skater Tuesday and Promise, her skating polar bear, he’s sure he knows them both from somewhere. Full of magic and snowy mystery, Cerrie Burnell’s beautiful story spins legend and real life into a fairy tale of family and belonging.

A young dolphin, washed up on the beach, unexpectedly brings Kara and Felix together. But the new friends must take on new challenges – finding out the truth about Kara’s missing mother, and protecting the bay when it falls under threat.

Casey Blue lives with her father in a tower block in Hackney, London , but despite her urban existence, she dreams of one day becoming an equestrian champion.