Featured Books
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
We recently read A Wolf Called Wander in our 3rd-5th Grade Book Club. This adventure story is told entirely from the perspective of Swift, a wolf cub who is enjoying life in the mountains when he becomes separated from his pack. He overcomes many perils on his long journey to find a new home. There are currently four stand-alone books in Parry's Voice of the Wilderness series: A Wolf Called Wander, A Whale of the Wild, A Horse Named Sky, and A Wolf Called Fire.
The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
The Eyes and the Impossible, a Newbery Award winning book by Dave Eggers is told from the perspective of Johannes, a dog living in a city park with his friends, a seagull, raccoon, squirrel, and pelican. Johannes watches everything and reports back to bison elders. When their lives are disrupted by mysterious construction, the animals work together, devising an escape plan. Johannes's story continues in the recently published sequel, The Eyes, the Fire, and the Avalanche Kingdom.
Odder by Katherine Applegate
Odder is the main character in Katherine Applegate's novel by the same name. Odder's experiences are told mainly from her perspective, in short, free-verse poems. She is a young sea otter who gets separated from her mom and rescued by humans, then returned to the wild only to be rescued again after being injured by a shark. She ultimately finds her purpose as a surrogate mom to orphaned pups. Applegate's next novel, Wombat Waiting is due to be released in May, 2026.
Clarice the Brave by Lisa McMann
Another story about separation is Clarice the Brave by Lisa McMann. Clarice, a young ship mouse and her brother, Charles Sebastian are unable to find each other after a mutiny at sea. The story, told from Clarice's first-person perspective, and Charles Sebastian's third-person perspective, follows both mice as they confront many dangers, including a dreadful cat, in their pursuit to reunite.
Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd follows a housecat that ventures out into the wild when her human becomes ill, and Haven is determined to find help. Haven's adventures are told from her perspective, including meeting a frightening bobcat, and a fox who becomes her ally.
Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire
Cress, a young rabbit, tells the story of how she and her brother Kip must find a new home when their father goes missing in Gregory Maguire's fantasy novel, Cress Watercress. They move into a tree which is home to some unusual characters, including a mouse, an owl, and a family of squirrels. Cress learns to navigate the challenges of her new life as she grows up.
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
In Sara Pennypacker's Pax, a boy named Peter shares a deep bond with his pet fox. As war approaches, they become separated, and Pax must learn to survive in the wild as Peter embarks on a journey to find him. The story alternates between Peter's experiences and Pax's perspective. Fans will enjoy the sequel, Pax, Journey Home.
Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern
Another story that highlights a strong human-animal bond is Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern. Chester is a Labrador who fails his service dog test, but ultimately finds his true calling with Gus, a nonverbal autistic boy. They navigate the challenges of school and life together, with Chester's narration helping readers to understand Gus's feelings.
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly follows Iris, a deaf girl who feels a deep connection with Blue 55, a whale who is lonely and unable to communicate with other whales. Iris embarks on an adventure to help him, traveling to Alaska and creating a special song for him. Iris is the primary narrator, with the story alternating between her perspective and Blue 55's, emphasizing the importance of finding one's voice.
The Last Bear by Hannah Gold
Although The Last Bear by Hannah Gold is told mainly from the perspective of a girl named April, Bear's experiences and feelings are weaved in through their nonverbal communication, revealing his isolation and fear when she finds him stranded in the Arctic. They form a special bond as she tries to help him return home, all while dealing with her own feelings of loneliness.
Please visit the Wyckoff Rizzo Children's Library, call us at 201-891-4866, or email denise.marchetti@wyckoff.bccls.org for details on our book clubs and all that we offer kids and families. Check out our display featuring these and more novels with animal protagonists.
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