Are there ever enough animal or wildlife stories? No, I don’t think so. Somehow they always capture our hearts and minds. (And you don’t even want to know how much time I spend watching animal rescue videos!) Here are a few picture books and one middle grade novel that explore the wonder, complexity, and love of our animal friends. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! (And yes, reptiles, such as turtles, are considered animals of the reptilia class.)
YOSHI AND THE OCEAN: A SEA TURTLE’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY HOME
by Lindsay Moore
I LOVED this poetic, TRUE story of a loggerhead sea turtle named Yoshi (Yoshitaro). Japanese fishermen found her injured and brought her to the Cape Town Aquarium where she rested and recovered…for twenty years! By then, everyone agreed – Yoshi was ready to return to the ocean and find her real home. This beautifully-written and illustrated picture book by Lindsay Moore highlights Yoshi’s journey across the ocean – nearly 25,000 miles! – to return to the place she was born. Scientists placed a satellite tracker on the beloved sea turtle to learn where she would go and make sure she was safe.
“Hello from Yoshi. I am here,” is a repeated motif throughout the book to illustrate the vast journey Yoshi undertook and how scientists were able to follow her via satellite signals. Somehow, magically, the repeated phrase makes you fall in love with this intrepid, determined turtle. The back material provides further information about loggerhead sea turtles, oceanography, and how scientists use satellites in their research. Don’t miss this one!
ANNA & SAMIA: THE TRUE STORY OF SAVING A BLACK RHINO
by Paul Meisel
“Eeak, eeak!” squeaked the newborn rhinoceros.
Her mother had wandered off.
Now the baby rhino was all alone in the vast Kenyan rhino sanctuary.”
Who could resist an opener like that? Paul Meisel’s picture book ANNA & SAMIA: THE TRUE STORY OF SAVING A BLACK RHINO is full of heart and interesting facts. I loved every bit of it. When Anna Merz learned about the widespread poaching of rhinos, she got to work and helped organize the donation of land in Kenya for their rescue and conservation. This sweet story recounts the special relationship Anna had with an abandoned baby rhino – including the hilarious complications of raising a rhino in her home! Over time, Anna learned to speak rhino to help rewild baby Samia. Meisel’s colorful illustrations delightfully capture their special bond of friendship on every page. I had no idea there were five species of rhinos or that their language was so complicated. Amazing…
THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
by Sheila Burnford
I’m always interested to see how writers develop animal characters – viewing the world through their perspectives. Sheila Burnford astounded me. She didn’t anthropomorphize. She stuck to the nature of each animal and somehow gave them such unique and powerful characteristics that I was attached to them the whole Incredible Journey through the Canadian wilderness. I was also captivated by her prose. Though it’s marketed as a middle grade novel, she didn’t write the story for children in particular. Perhaps that’s why the story was made into a movie…twice. I remember seeing the movie HOMEWARD BOUND a long, long time ago…and loving it. But I was even more enchanted by the novel. It’s a timeless tale of love and loyalty that will hook most any animal lover!
JAMES HERRIOT’S TREASURY FOR CHILDREN
by James Herriot
I concur. This James Herriot story book collection IS a TREASURY (for adults too)! It’s the perfect cozy weather book – each story leaves you feeling as if you’ve been sitting by a crackling fire, glancing now and again at the blistery cold weather out the window. The warmth and deep connections Herriot develops between the animals and the community stick with you and just might give you an irrepressible smile. The collection includes eight stories accompanied by gorgeous watercolor paintings by artists Ruth Brown and Peter Barrett. I’ll be coming back to this one again and again. My favorites were BONNIE’S BIG DAY (about a very proper horse) and BLOSSOM COMES HOME (about a very loyal cow.) And, of course, I’ve been watching every season of the new ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL!