Animal stories for older readers
Enjoy some of our favourite books about animals for older children, from Michael Morpurgo's War Horse to Eva Ibbotson's One Dog and His Boy.
These chapter books are perfect for engaging children who love animals, with something for everyone from reluctant readers to those reading above their age level.
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War Horse
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Francois Place
Publisher: Egmont
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+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.
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The Last Wolf
Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 7+Powerful illustrations underline this captivating tale of loyalty and bravery.
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The Sheep-Pig
Author: Dick King-Smith Illustrator: Mike Terry
Publisher: Penguin
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+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.
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The White Giraffe
Author: Lauren St John Illustrator: David Dean
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+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.
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The Snow Goose
Author: Paul Gallico Illustrator: Angela Barrett
Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 9+A lonely artist sets up home in an isolated lighthouse with only seabirds, boating and painting for distraction. Gradually he builds up a sanctuary where wild birds are safe from storms and hunters.
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The Great Hamster Massacre
Author: Katie Davies Illustrator: Hannah Shaw
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Books
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+According to Anna's mum, hamsters are BAD NEWS. But that doesn't stop Anna and her friends from hatching a plan to persuade Mum to let them get a hamster.
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An Elephantasy
Author: Maria Elena Walsh Translator: Daniel Hahn
Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 10+The fact that a girl is taking her geranium for a walk (the way she does every Thursday) is not the most unusual thing that happens on the first page of this book; there's an elephant on the doorstep. So far, so curious.
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One Dog and His Boy
Author: Eva Ibbotson Illustrator: Sharon Rentta
Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 8+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...
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The One Dollar Horse
Author: Lauren St John
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 10+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.
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White Dolphin
Author: Gill Lewis
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+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.
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Tilly's Moonlight Fox
Author:
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 8+This sensitively-written story with a touch of time-travel magic has a flavour of classic children's books such as The Secret Garden and Tom's Midnight Garden.
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Tiger Wars
Author: Steve Backshall
Publisher: Orion Children's Books
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+Saker and Sinter live utterly different lives - until they find themselves unlikely companions on the run. A breathlessly exciting adventure set in India.
