Charming animal characters can be a lovely stand-in for the humanity in all of us. Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad in The Wind and the Willows, our WE ALL READ book selection, express all kinds of human sentiments and behaviors.
You can participate in our community reading program by downloading ebooks and audiobooks of The Wind in the Willows and Frog and Toad are Friends or picking up print copies at the library or at little free libraries around the community.
For more animal anthropomorphism, check out our list of recommendations.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
What can the peace-loving mice of Redwall Abbey do to defend themselves against Cluny the Scourge and his battle-seasoned army of rats? Join the bumbling young apprentice Matthias, who becomes the unlikeliest of heroes, on an adventure to rival the Athurian legends!
Watership Down by Richard Adams
A stirring epic of courage and survival against the odds, Watership Down has become a beloved classic for all ages. Both an exciting adventure story and an involving allegory about freedom, ethics, and human nature, it has delighted generations with its unique and charming world.
Overdrive Ebook | Overdrive Audiobook | Hoopla Audiobook | Animated Film on Kanopy
The Warriors by Erin Hunter
The Warriors series follows the adventures of a housecat who joins one of the warrior cat clans. Known for its expansive cast of characters and complex world, major themes include adventure, forbidden love, the concept of nature vs. nurture, acceptance, the struggle of good vs. evil, the reactions of different faiths meeting each other, and all people being a mix of good and bad.
The Seekers Series by Erin Hunter
The Seekers series follows four bear cubs on their search for a place where they can live in peace without human interference and harassment. The environment and human impact on the world are themes throughout the series.
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
The Jungle Book from 1894 is a collection of Rudyard Kipling’s stories that give moral lessons through the personification of animals.The most famous of the stories are the three detailing the adventures of Mowgli, the abandoned “man cub” who is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. Also well-known is the tale of a heroic mongoose Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, and the story of a young elephant handler in Toomai of the Elephants.
Mouse Guard by David Petersen
The fearless Mouse Guard are dispatched to find a missing merchant. Their search reveals much more than they expect, as they stumble across a traitor in the Guard’s own ranks.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte’s Web, high up in Zuckerman’s barn. Charlotte’s spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur’s life when he was born the runt of his litter.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Ralph is not like the other mice at the Mountain View Inn. He is always looking for adventure. It is Ralph’s lucky day when a young guest named Keith arrives with a shiny miniature motorcycle. Right away, Ralph knows that the motorcycle is special-made to be ridden by an adventurous mouse. And once a mouse can ride a motorcycle . . . almost anything can happen!
Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai
The samurai is the ruling class throughout the land, following a warrior’s code of honor known as Bushido. Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 1 chronicles this time of settling unrest and political intrigue, told through the story of a wandering and masterless samurai named Miyamoto Usagi, aka Usagi Yojimbo! One of the great classics of the last 20 years, perfect for all ages.
