Top 16 Animal Books For Adults Updated 04 /2024

Some of the best books I read as a child had special relationships between humans and animals. Because of Where the Red Fern Grows, I felt like Old Dan and Little Ann were my own dogs. At the end of that book, I was in so much pain because I saw how well Billy was connected to the dogs. Everyone knows the story of Charlotte's Web, but who can forget Fern's heartfelt plea for Wilbur's life in Fern?

Because of the amazing human-animal relationships that were shown to me, I learned a lot about love, friendship, and loss. The sad thing is that there aren't a lot of those books in adult fiction, as if adults don't need to learn those things. But every now and then, I come across a grown-up human-animal story that still has the power to make me fall in love. Sometimes animal stories can show us things about ourselves that people can't.

Dozens of other rioters have made their own pleas for well-rounded animal characters and more animal stories for adults. You can check out this list of great adult books that show how humans and animals have a strong connection.

Life Of Pi by Yann Martel

One day, a sixteen-year-old boy survives the sinking of a ship. Then, he finds himself on the same lifeboat as a bengal tiger. This amazing pairing of man and animal leads to a story that is crazy imaginative, heartfelt, and even a little bit real. Martel does one of the best stories I've ever read. There are big moments of danger, but there are also a lot of thoughts about philosophy and faith. There is then an ending that will make you want to read it again.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

At some point in the early 1930s, Jacob Jankowski doesn't have a home or a job, which makes him feel very alone. His veterinary studies are almost done, and he gets a job taking care of the animals in a traveling circus. To get people to come, they need Rosie the elephant. She's been hard to train so far. Jacob soon learns how to connect with her and becomes her best friend and protector. It turns out that Jacob also likes Marlena, who is married to the animal trainer and is a beautiful young horseback rider. Her husband is mean to both his wife and the animals, which puts Jacob and Marlena in danger.

Spill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume

This heartbreaking book is about a man and a dog who both have a lot of problems, but they find a home in each other. I could not put it down even though I knew it was going to break my heart. It is a beautiful, very sad book. Baume's beautiful writing is poetic and precise, and her detailed descriptions of their isolated life together are just beautiful. This book won't be right for everyone. Even though I like books with slow burns and big emotional changes, this one might be right for you.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Edgar, who was born mute, only communicates in sign language and can't speak. On their Wisconsin farm, they breed and train loyal Sawtelle dogs. His uncle comes to visit, and things start to go wrong for the first time for the family. Edgar is sent out on his own for the first time. All the dogs, especially Edgar's best friend Almondine, are important parts of the story and even help tell parts of it. It's a long book with beautiful words you'll want to read over and over again. As a bonus, Shakespeare fans will find a lot of interesting similarities between Hamlet and other stories.

The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Khan

There are a lot of interesting things that happen on Inspector Ashwin Chopra's last day at work for the Mumbai Police force: First, he gets a letter telling him that he has a baby elephant. It turns out that he found evidence of a mysterious murder that will launch his post-retirement career. The elephant is a surprise helper in his secret investigation, and it's fun to see how the two start to bond. This is the first book in Khan's Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation series. If you like cozy mysteries, you should read this one.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

He was Denny Swift's dog and he loved it. In the beginning, I didn't want to read the book because I don't like cheesy books and thought it was too clever. It wasn't until I heard good things about the book from a lot of other people that I finally agreed to read it. Besides, it turns out this very popular book is a lot of fun to read. It shows how much love there is between people and their pets. Enzo has learned a lot about how people act after walking with Denny for years through all the problems and joys of life.

The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel (Translator)

Nana was a stray five years ago. She lived on the streets. During a terrible accident, Nana was rescued by Saturo. He nursed him back to health, and the two of them became family. They are now going on a trip, stopping along the way to see three of Saturo's old friends. They are going to visit them all. Nana doesn't know why they're going on this trip, but he's glad to be on board. Both of them will learn about love, friendship, and how even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world.

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

For the first time in almost fifteen years, I read Winn-Dixie with my son. I fell in love with the book all over again. It's a classic coming-of-age story that has something for everyone: a cast of quirky characters, a young girl trying to figure out her broken family, and a big, goofy dog that helps everyone get along. If you want to read a book that makes you feel good, this is it.

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