Children’s Books with Animal Characters: Beloved Stories and Lessons from Memorable Animal Heroes

Mr Fox is a cunning and sly fox who steals from local farmers every night to feed his family. The story then proceeds to show how the farmers try to stop and capture Mr Fox unsuccessfully numerous times. Safe but trapped, Mr Fox and his family begin to starve and hence, Mr Fox asks for help from other burrowing animals. After they succeed in their plan to attain food, Mr Fox finally invites all of them to live in a secret underground neighbourhood away from the angry farmers. He volunteers to hunt for food every day and while all of them celebrate, the farmers continue to wait for Mr Fox to appear.

For fans of children’s books with animal characters, Mr Fox is a standout example of wit and teamwork, with his clever antics captivating young readers. Other than reading the original book, you can also watch Wes Anderson’s stop- motion film based on the classic, voiced by famous Hollywood actors including George Clooney and Meryl Streep. Check out the trailer below:

The book is an endearing tale of friendship, exemplified by the strong bond between Wilbur and Charlotte. Their touching relationship teaches us important values like empathy and kindness, and shows us how the unlikeliest of friendships can have a lasting impact on our lives. Apart from heartwarming themes of friendship, you can also look forward to reading about a delightful cast of animal characters, each with their own unique traits. White is definitely able to engage and entertain both children and adults with his elegant writing style, and that is why Charlotte’s Web is a timeless classic.

If you are keen, you can also watch a movie adaptation of the book. Take a look at the following trailer to find out more:

3. Hedwig from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Hedwig, a snowy owl, is the pet of the main character, Harry Potter. Hedwig is Harry’s trusted companion and delivers his posts to his friends and godfather promptly. Most importantly, Hedwig is Harry’s only companion during the summer holidays where he is forced to stay with his unpleasant relatives. Hedwig is also affectionate towards Harry, often nibbling his finger and ear. Harry, who craves for love, loves Hedwig in return and cares for her responsibly. As a character in children’s books with animal characters, Hedwig exemplifies loyalty and companionship, and Rowling’s portrayal of her endears her to readers everywhere. Interestingly, Hedwig is such a popular character that many Hedwig collectibles have been produced and sold including plushies.

Throughout the series, Rowling is able to endow her animal characters – both magical and non- magical – with interesting and unusual personalities, such as the black boarhound Fang, the enormous dog with an even bigger heart, and Fawkes, Dumbledore’s distinguished phoenix whose magical tears cured the toxic bite on Harry’s arm. Hedwig stands out among all of them because none can compare to the loyalty and affection she has towards the boy who lived, so much so that she ultimately sacrificed her life to save his.

Always wanted your own snowy owl? Watch this video and find out how you can make your own Hedwig Balloon:

Socks is a white-footed tabby cat who gets a lot of love from the couple he lives with. This simple yet heartfelt story shows how change can be hard for pets too, making it a unique addition to children’s books with animal characters. His problems arise when the couple has a baby and their attention shifts to the baby. Only Mrs Risley, the babysitter, seems to understand Socks’s loneliness and gives him a lot of attention. Socks later gets injured in a fight with another neighbourhood stray cat, finally prompting the couple to realise their neglect of Socks. Socks finally becomes the companion of the baby (then a toddler) when they are accidentally locked together in the same room.

Socks is a simple yet heartwarming tale from Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary who manages to charm readers both young and old with a loveable feline character. It is a light-hearted read but will definitely resonate if you own a naughty pet or find yourself feeling misunderstood after the arrival of a new sibling. The writer is able to perfectly tell the story from the perspective of a cat, thus helping to develop our empathy for our pets because it makes us realise that they too can have thoughts and emotions like us. Take this quiz after you have read the book to see how well you actually know Socks!