Books about animals for young readers
Enjoy some of our recommended books for younger children about animals, from classics like Dick King-Smith's Sheep Pig to modern favourites like Ed Vere's Mr. Big.
These books are perefect to cuddle up and read with little ones, and for more confident kids to read themselves.
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Mister Seahorse
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 3+
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Mister Seahorse
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 3+
Mister Seahorse, like many other types of marine animal, is a 'male mother'.
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The Elephant and the Bad Baby
Author: Elfrida Vipont Illustrator: Raymond Briggs
Interest level: 1-3
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The Elephant and the Bad Baby
Author: Elfrida Vipont Illustrator: Raymond Briggs
Interest level: 1-3
Reading age:
One day, an elephant offers a baby a ride through the town, and the set off on a great adventure.
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Midnight Adventures in Primrose Park
Author: Helen Peters Illustrator: Isobel Lundie
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
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Midnight Adventures in Primrose Park
Author: Helen Peters Illustrator: Isobel Lundie
Interest level: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
Can Dapple the fawn help his mother? Will Olive the otterfindher mother again? Two charming animal stories in one volume, with dys…
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Notso Hotso
Author: Ann Fine Illustrator: Tony Ross
Interest level: 6-10
Reading age: 7+
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Notso Hotso
Author: Ann Fine Illustrator: Tony Ross
Interest level: 6-10
Reading age: 7+
Anthony, a very vain dog, is horrified when his fur starts to fall out in clumps. On a humiliating trip to the vet, his body is sh…
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The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Author: Jon Scieszka Illustrator: Lane Smith
Interest level: 5+
Reading age: 7+
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The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Author: Jon Scieszka Illustrator: Lane Smith
Interest level: 5+
Reading age: 7+
What really happened to the three little pigs and the big bad wolf? Find out the truth in this hilarious picture book.
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The Sheep-Pig
Author: Dick King-Smith Illustrator: Mike Terry
Interest level: 6+
Reading age: 7+
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The Sheep-Pig
Author: Dick King-Smith Illustrator: Mike Terry
Interest level: 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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Banana!
Author: Ed Vere Illustrator: Ed Vere
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 5+
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Banana!
Author: Ed Vere Illustrator: Ed Vere
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 5+
Follow the cartoon-style adventures of two monkeys. One of them has a banana and the other one wants it - but what is the magic wo…
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jr Illustrator: Eric Carle
Interest level: 2-5
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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jr Illustrator: Eric Carle
Interest level: 2-5
Reading age:
An all-time favourite that introduces different colours through simple text, presented in a satisfyingly repetitive pattern.
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LOST! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog
Author: Jeremy Strong Illustrator: Rowan Clifford
Interest level: 6+
Reading age: 8+
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LOST! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog
Author: Jeremy Strong Illustrator: Rowan Clifford
Interest level: 6+
Reading age: 8+
A madcap story of Dazzy Donut Dog, aka Streaker, whose hilarious antics and outrageous exploits barely keep pace with the tornado …
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Who Wants To Be a Poodle I Don't
Author: Lauren Child
Interest level: 4+
Reading age: 6+
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Who Wants To Be a Poodle I Don't
Author: Lauren Child
Interest level: 4+
Reading age: 6+
Trixie Twinkle Toes Trot-a-lot Delight is a pampered poodle, who lives in luxury with her owner, Mademoiselle Verity BruleĢe.
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This is Not My Hat
Author: Jon Klassen
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 5+
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This is Not My Hat
Author: Jon Klassen
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 5+
A little fish has stolen an equally small bowler hat from a much bigger fish. Hiding himself in the weedsm, he is confident he won…
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I Want My Hat Back
Author: Jon Klassen
Interest level: 4-6
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I Want My Hat Back
Author: Jon Klassen
Interest level: 4-6
Reading age:
A bear sets out in search of his hat - he loves his hat and he wants it back
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Hairy Maclary's Bone
Author: Lynley Dodd
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
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Hairy Maclary's Bone
Author: Lynley Dodd
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
Hairy Maclary is lucky enough to be given a big juicy bone by the butcher, Samuel Stone. This does not go unnoticed by all the oth…
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"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 2-5
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"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 2-5
Reading age:
Sloth lives in the rainforest with pumas, bats, monkeys and many more animals. Sloth's fellow creatures can't understand why he is…
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Do You Want To Be My Friend?
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 3+
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Do You Want To Be My Friend?
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 3+
'Do you want to be my friend?' Asked just once, this simple question starts a little mouse's journey through this almost wordless …
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The Getaway
Author: Ed Vere
Interest level: 4+
Reading age: 6+
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The Getaway
Author: Ed Vere
Interest level: 4+
Reading age: 6+
Notorious cheese thief Fingers McGraw is on the run (or rather, on the moped) from chief law enforcer The Elephant.
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Sing a Song of Bottoms!
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Adam Stower
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 7+
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Sing a Song of Bottoms!
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Adam Stower
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 7+
Young children will love the rhyming text which rejoices in the diversity of bottoms!
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1, 2, 3 to the Zoo
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 1-5
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1, 2, 3 to the Zoo
Author: Eric Carle
Interest level: 1-5
Reading age:
Glorious two-dimensional illustrations in soft sponge-prints bring the animals to life and encourage counting without the need for…
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Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Author: Lynley Dodd
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 6+
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Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Author: Lynley Dodd
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 6+
This hilarious rhyming story follows Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, as he sets off for a walk in town
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Tim's Din
Author: Monica Hughes Illustrator: Bill Ledger
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 4+
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Tim's Din
Author: Monica Hughes Illustrator: Bill Ledger
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 4+
Tim’s Din is a lively and entertaining story about the mischief that little monkeys can get up to when they’re bored.
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The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit
Author: Emma Thompson Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 6+
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The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit
Author: Emma Thompson Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 6+
Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson has turned her hand to children's books in this new continuation of Peter Rab…
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The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-Cat
Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Charlotte Voake
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
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The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-Cat
Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Charlotte Voake
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
At the end of Edward Lear's much loved poem, the happily married Owl and the Pussy-cat are dancing hand-in-hand on the edge of the…
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Macavity
Author: T. S. Eliot Illustrator: Arthur Robins
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 4+
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Macavity
Author: T. S. Eliot Illustrator: Arthur Robins
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 4+
Escaped from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Macavity is now the star of his own picture book. With new illustrations from Ar…
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The Mouse Who Ate the Moon
Author: Petr Horacek
Interest level: 3-6
Reading age: 7+
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The Mouse Who Ate the Moon
Author: Petr Horacek
Interest level: 3-6
Reading age: 7+
This peep-through story book has beautiful illustrations which are brought to life with the peep-through hole on each page. An end…
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Max the Brave
Author: Ed Vere
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
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Max the Brave
Author: Ed Vere
Interest level: 3+
Reading age: 6+
Max the kitten is Brave - which is why he doesn't like being dressed up in ribbons. He sets out to find a mouse to chase, but he d…
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Where Bear?
Author: Sophy Henn
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 5+
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Where Bear?
Author: Sophy Henn
Interest level: 2+
Reading age: 5+
When a little boy's pet polar bear grows up, he's too big for the house, and has to be found a new home. But where?
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Fish is Fish
Author: Leo Lionni
Interest level: 3-6
Reading age: 6+
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Fish is Fish
Author: Leo Lionni
Interest level: 3-6
Reading age: 6+
A classic picture book with whimsical, textured illustrations exploring some basic philosophical questions and offering reassuranc…
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Toby and the Ice Giants
Author: Joe Lillington
Interest level: 5+
Reading age: 7+
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Toby and the Ice Giants
Author: Joe Lillington
Interest level: 5+
Reading age: 7+
A charming story with lively illustrations to learn more about the last Ice Age.
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One Day on Our Blue Planet... in the Savannah
Author: Ella Bailey
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
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One Day on Our Blue Planet... in the Savannah
Author: Ella Bailey
Interest level: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
This is a lovely discussion book for children who have an interest in animals and the natural environment.
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Lion Practice
Author: Emma Carlisle
Interest level: 2-5
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Lion Practice
Author: Emma Carlisle
Interest level: 2-5
Reading age:
Laura goes to long and noisry lengths to remind her mum and dad she's still there after a new sibling arrives on the scene.
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Poo in the Zoo
Author: Steve Smallman Illustrator: Ada Grey
Interest level: 3-7
Reading age: 6+
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Poo in the Zoo
Author: Steve Smallman Illustrator: Ada Grey
Interest level: 3-7
Reading age: 6+
Zoo keeper Bob McGew calls in poo expert Hector Glopp when an iguana poops a big lime green poo.
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