Of Mice and Main Characters (Read a book from an animal’s point of view)
April 26, 2022
When thinking of stories written from an animal’s perspective, you may find yourself thinking only of children’s classics like The Wind in the Willows or Charlotte’s Web. Well, there are plenty of options that have all the magic of talking animals along with the sophistication of storytelling for grownups! Take some time to recapture some of the wonders of youth with a book written from the point-of-view of an animal.
Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton
S.T. is a foulmouthed crow who lives with Big Jim and Big Jim’s dog, Dennis. His perfect life of Cheetos and swapped insults with the wild crows ends when Big Jim dies and S.T. is forced to venture out into a world filled with a dangerous new predator – a predator you might describe as a zombie.
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
David Sedaris has made a name for himself writing funny, self-deprecating personal essays about his life. In Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, he pivots to modern-day fables featuring animals living everyday lives and facing familiar challenges. The stories may feature woodland animals instead of people, but the wit and wisdom will feel just as relevant.
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
A book that opens with a murder is nothing new in mystery, and readers won’t even be surprised by animal detectives. (Savvy dogs and cats have been assisting their sleuth owners for years.) What makes this book unique – and oh-so-much fun – is that the murdered man is a shepherd, and the detectives are his sheep. They’re determined to track down the culprit using the skills they’ve learned from all the books their beloved shepherd has read to them over the years.
The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
Beatrix Potter is the beloved author of the Peter Rabbit tales, and in the Cottage Tales series she also happens to have some skill in solving mysteries. In this cozy series Beatrix Potter is joined by a whole squad of animal friends (who talk to each other!) as she solves crime in the charming English countryside.
The Bees by Laline Paull
If you’re itching for a complex dystopia, look no further than the strictly controlled, hierarchical society of the hive in The Bees. Flora 717 is one of the lowest of bees, working in sanitation and with an unseemly amount of curiosity about the world, but her strength and courage give her opportunities to advance in the hive. But soon she’s questioning the worship of the queen and the very foundation of bee society.
Book / Large Print / eBook / CD Audiobook / Audio eBook
Pug Actually by Matt Dunn
For a swoonworthy love story, join rescue dog Doug the pug on his quest to find true love for his rescuer, Julie. Julie is afraid of a future as a lonely cat lady (and Doug agrees), so she’s staying in a bad relationship. But Doug can see that Tom is her perfect match, and he’s sure he can prove it.
The Bear by Andrew Krivak
This quiet, spare, and poetic novel is the perfect choice for readers who love literary fiction. It follows a man and his daughter, the last of humanity, as they learn to live in close harmony with nature. When the daughter is left to find her way home alone after a journey, it is a bear who steps in to guide the daughter on her journey.
Book / eBook / Audio eBook
Mort(e) by Robert Rapino
For thousands of years the Colony, a race of intelligent ants, has been building an army with the intent to destroy humanity. Now the time for war has come, and the Colony has enlisted dogs and cats in the fight. Mort(e) is a former housecat turned war hero, but his primary motivation is to find his friend Sheba, a dog, from before the transformation.
Albert of Adelaide by Howard L. Anderson
Albert the platypus has escaped from the zoo in Adelaide, Australia, and sets out on a quest through the Outback in search of the promised land he calls “Old Australia.” On the way he’ll meet wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, and one Tasmanian devil in this action-packed, unforgettable quest novel.
The Builders by Daniel Polansky
If Quentin Tarantino directed The Wind in the Willows as a revenge western, you’d probably end up with something like The Builders. The Captain, a skilled outlaw whose last job went wrong, is reassembling his crew of deadly animal assassins in an attempt to put things right. These may be animals, but they’re far from cuddly. Have no illusions – this book comes with a body count.