Five Great Books for Animal Lovers

Do you love animals? What about the young readers in your life? Do they love animals, too?

Share your love of all creatures furred, finned, and feathered with our featured collection of books for animal lovers!

Visit our website to browse the complete collection, and read on to discover five great books . . .

Animal Supermarket

Written by Giovanna Zoboli
Illustrated by Simona Mulazzani

Where do animals get their food? At the grocery store, of course! At the animal supermarket, polar bears happily prowl the seafood section, cats stock up on bottles of milk, and mice crowd around the cheese counter.

From the award-winning duo who created I Wish I Had . . . and The Big Book of Slumber (both Eerdmans) comes another imaginative story that will delight animal lovers of all ages.

“The overall emphasis on fresh fruits and veggies sends a salutary message to young consumers. A tongue-in-cheek reminder that good food doesn’t have to come in a box, jar or plastic bag.”
— Kirkus Reviews

Mikis and the Donkey

Written by Bibi Dumon Tak
Illustrated by Philip Hopman
Translated by Laura Watkinson

Winner of the 2015 Mildred L. Batchelder Award

One day, Mikis’s grandfather has a surprise for him: a new donkey waiting! Mikis falls in love with the creature, but his grandparents tell him that the donkey is a working animal, not a pet. However, they still let Mikis choose her name — Tsaki — and allow the two of them to spend their Sundays together. Mikis and Tsaki soon become fast friends, and together the two have some grand adventures. Eventually, both Mikis and his grandfather learn a bit more about what exactly it means to care for another creature.

Brought to life by drawings from Philip Hopman, Bibi Dumon Tak’s gentle, humorous story is perfect for any readers who may have their own soft spot for animals.

Read an interview with translator Laura Watkinson and a behind-the-book column by editor Kathleen Merz here on Eerdlings.

Two Little Birds

Written and illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma

Two little birds hatch and grow until one day, they see an amazing sight: hundreds of birds, all flying together in one direction. They decide to join in, and so begins an amazing and sometimes dangerous journey that they never could have imagined. Eventually they return home — and the cycle starts over again.

This simple story, nicely complemented by warm and colorful illustrations, subtly celebrates the wonder of migration. Two Little Birds is a perfect book for introducing young children to nature’s small miracles.

Watch the book trailer below. 

Animals of the Bible for Young Children

Written by Marie-Hélène Delval
Illustrated by Aurélia Fronty

The Bible’s stories abound with animals, from Jonah’s giant fish and Daniel’s lions to humble sparrows and tiny ants. This colorful book uses simple language to introduce children to the menagerie of animals that populate the pages of the Bible, and shows how even the smallest of creatures bear witness to God’s wisdom and love.

I Wish I Had . . . 

Written by Giovanna Zoboli
Illustrated by Simona Mulazzani

2013 IndieFab Awards Silver Winner in Picture Books

With its sharp eyes, the blackbird can see every blade of grass in the meadow. The wings of the wild goose can carry it far away. And the song of the whale fills the wide ocean. Each animal has skills and beauty wholly unique to itself. And in this lyrical book, a child describes the skill and the beauty possessed by various animals.

Giovanna Zoboli’s fluid and lyrical descriptions, complemented by Simona Mulazzani’s bright and charming illustrations, will leave the reader charmed by the book’s sense of wonder and awe.

“This simple, graceful, and even majestic meditation reflects on the beauty and strength of familiar animals. . . . With poetic language and paintings that carry something close to the impact of icons, Zoboli and Mulazzani offer an attitude of reverence for the natural world.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A book of big ideas, sparingly told, and full of wonder.”
— Booklist (starred review)

Browse the rest of this month’s featured collection on our website, and be sure to check out three more great new books for animals lovers — coming soon, but available for preorder now!