Favorites of All Time
Fantasy, Science Fiction and Mysteries are my favorite genres and I love animals of all shapes and sizes, so when you put them together, well, I could stay happily occupied for hours. This lens contains an annotated bibliography of, what I feel, are the best animal fantasy, incredible story and mystery books and multimedia that are still available today.
Animal Fantasies and Other Tales
As I looked over the list of my favorite fantasy, amazing tales and mystery books about animals, I realized that the majority of them were written for children. Why is that? Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that so many adults loose their sense of wonder and they "stop hearing the bells" (like the children in the Polar Express).
Some cynical people would say it's because some of us just never grow up. Well, we're proud to say that we are among the delightful number of adults who have the Peter Pan syndrome. Each day and each interaction with nature and animals is a joyful experience filled with learning with a bit of magic thrown in. We hope that we will never loose this wonder and love for all living things that we have retained from our childhood.
My favorite genres to read for fun are Fantasy, Science Fiction and Mysteries. I enjoy reading a variety of non-fiction books, too. I hope, as a retired school librarian, that I am serving as a good model by being a Life Long Learner. Catching the reading bug early in life is an important skill and a "hobby" that will serve you as long as you live. Books are an important part of learning, but we must embrace all learning styles, so I have included multimedia versions of my favorites in the list.
The list has grown quite long, but we figured that more is better, in this case. Actually, I had to leave off the Circle of Light Series by Neil Hancock because the books are not readily available. This series was a predecessor of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques and was geared more towards adults and young adults. If you can find copies at the library or in a second hand bookstore, they are certainly worth a read.
Now, on to our favorite animal fantasies, tales and mysteries. We hope you enjoy them all.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh (Aladdin Fantasy)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
An Adventure story with an unlikely heroine, Mrs. Frisby, a field mouse, who has to brave a visit to the Rats and the Great Owl in order to save her children. There are some delightfully entertaining characters who help her find a way to move her house to safety.
The Secret of NIMH and Other Mouse Tales
![The Secret of NIMH [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FDNF3FYZL._SL75_.jpg)
A Hoppin' Good Book - Rabbit Hill
We have our own little Georgie, who come clippity-clipping out when my husband goes up the long drive to get the paper each morning. He always leaves him a little treat of carrots or rabbit chow by the edge of the woods and the little guy usually stays to finish up his snack when Al comes back to the house.
Rabbit Hill
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Rabbit Hill is not just a story with talking animals. It is so much more. It's about respect for all living creatures and it's also about choosing a different path from the others who are around you. And it's about gardening, one of my favorite subjects.
Watership Down: A Novel by Richard Adams
Watership Down: A Novel
Amazon Price: $11.52 (as of 11/11/2009)
Richard Adams wrote about a group of rabbits who were looking for a safe warren and on the adventurous trail there is heroism, deceit, joy and sorrow. Everyone will enjoy this wonderful book.
Watership Down Multimedia
![Watership Down [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21GXPS4MJXL._SL75_.jpg)
Watership Down Videos Made for TV
Watership Down - Brighteyes Vid
"Bright Eyes" - Watership Down
This is my first music video ever, so I hope you won't expect something amazing. Still, I'm pretty proud of it. Let me know what you think! Song is perfomed by Art Garfunkel and written by Mike Batt. I DO NOT OWN THE SONG OR THE ANIMATION, this is purely fan-made.
Runtime: 3:54
1793674 views
10 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit Gift Set: Hardcover book and plush package
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
A classically magical story about how love can make wishes come true. Every little one need their own Velveteen Rabbit and here's a boxed set. Read this aloud to a child you love.
Velveteen Rabbit Multimedia
![Velveteen Rabbit [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G113D29VL._SL75_.jpg)
Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Lovable Wilbur the Pig, Charlotte, Fern and Templeton the Rat join forces in an attempt to save Wilbur from the slaughter house and a lasting friendship is born. This story demonstrates how the relationship between humans and animals should be.
There are audio versions of the book as well as movies that are very well done.
Charlotte's Wilbur the Pig Beanie Baby
TY Beanie Babies Wilbur - Charlotte's Web Pig
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
Charlotte's Web Films
![Charlotte's Web [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VHT6NES2L._SL75_.jpg)
About the Author: E. B. White
Elwyn Brooks "E. B." White (July 11, 1899 ? October 1, 1985) was an American writer. A long-time contributor to "The New Yorker" magazine, he also wrote many famous books for both adults and children, such as the popular Charlottes Web and Stuart Little''.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Redwall (Redwall, Book 1)
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Redwall is the first of a series of books which tell an epic tale beginning with Redwall Abbey and Matthias, a young male mouse. This is an enthralling series of stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. You won't be able to stop with just one.
Redwall Series by Brian Jacques
Redwall DVD's
Redwall - part 1 Vid
Just a peek of what's in store for you in Redwall
About the Author: Brian Jacques
James Brian Jacques (pronounced "Jakes") (born June 15, 1939) is an English author, best known for his Redwall series of novels, as well as the Tribes of Redwall and Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series. He also completed two collections of short stories entitled The Ribbajack & Other Curious Yarns and Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales.
The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book (Unabridged Classics)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
This classic story about a boy who was raised by animals as well as Kipling's other animal stories portray animals as thinking beings that should be treated with respect.
Mowgli and Baloo Plush Toy
Disney The Jungle Book 12" Baloo with 8" Mowgli Plush Doll Set
Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Jungle Book Videos, DVD's and audio
![The Jungle Book (Fully Restored 30th Anniversary Limited Edition) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511GH00ZM8L._SL75_.jpg)
![Jungle Book (1994) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PKR5E7VTL._SL75_.jpg)
Riki Tiki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
This is my favorite story from Kipling's Just So Stories. For some reason, I have always been fascinated with the Mongoose in this story about a special relationship between a wild animal and a boy. Many of the video adaptions are also quite good.
Bambi by Felix Salten
Bambi: A Life in the Woods
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Salter's classic story about a young deer, coming of age in the forest, should not be missed. Some critics consider it to be the first "ecological" novel. The Disney film version is close to my heart, but the book tells the best story.
Bambi Plush Toy
Disney Store Exclusive 13" Bambi Plush Doll Authentic Original
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Bambi Trailer
Multimedia - Riki Tiki Tavi & Bambi
![Bambi (Fully Restored 55th Anniversary Limited Edition) (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DVF3SBVRL._SL75_.jpg)
The Chronicles of Narnia
The books in the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis are the ultimate animal fantasy complete with talking lions, beavers and all other sorts of creatures along with battles and symbolism. These stories can be enjoyed for just the story or for the underlying religious theme that runs through the entire series. These are classic works of art that everyone should read at some time in their life.
The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set
Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 11/11/2009)
The whole Chronicles of Narnia series in one boxed set. Hours of reading enjoyment for young and old.
Stories of C. S. Lewis Guides and DVD's
![The Chronicles of Narnia: Never Has the Magic Been So Real (Radio Theatre) [Full Cast Drama]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lnKBijaqL._SL75_.jpg)
About the Author: C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 ? 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as Jack, was an Irish-born Britishhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/338121/C-S-Lewis novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist. He is also known for his fiction, especially The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy.
Lewis was a close friend of J. R. R. Tolkien, and both authors were leading figures in the English faculty at Oxford University and in the informal Oxford litera'[UDHry group known as the "Inklings". According to his memoir Surprised by Joy, Lewis had been baptised in the Church of Ireland at birth, but fell away from his faith during his adolescence. Owing to the influence of Tolkien and other friends, at the age of 32, Lewis returned to Christianity, becoming "a very ordinary layman of the Church of England".Lewis (1952) Mere Christianity; p. 6 His conversion had a profound effect on his work, and his wartime radio broadcasts on the subject of Christianity brought him wide acclaim.
In 1956, he married the American writer Joy Gresham, 17 years his junior, who died four years later of cancer at the age of 45.
Lewis died three years after his wife, as the result of a heart attack. His death came one week before what would have been his 65th birthday. Media coverage of his death was minimal, as he died on 22 November 1963 ? the same day that U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and the same day as the death of another famous author, Aldous Huxley.
Lewis's works have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies over the years. The books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia have sold the most and have been popularised on stage, in TV, in radio, and in cinema.
Beatrix Potter Stories
The first animal fantasies for the very young should be those written by Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is probably the most familiar, but there are many more delightful stories for the little ones to enjoy like The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (one of my favorites) and the Tale of Two Bad Mice.
Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales
Amazon Price: $25.20 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter is a book that every parent should own. Bedtime stories are so important in developing future readers and provide such a pleasant way to end the day.
Peter Rabbit Plush Toy
The Original Peter Rabbit By Beatrix Potter Plush Peter Rabbit Beanie By Kids Preferred
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
The Stories of Beatrix Potter DVD's
About the Author: Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter (July 28, 1866 ? December 22, 1943) was an English author, illustrator, mycologist and conservationist who was best known for her best-selling children's books that featured animal characters, such as Peter Rabbit.
Born into a privileged household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets and, through holidays spent in Scotland and the Lake District, developed a love of landscape, flora and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted. Her parents discouraged her intellectual development as a young woman, but her study and watercolors of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field of mycology.
In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and became secretly engaged to her publisher Norman Warne. This caused a breach with her parents, who disapproved of her marrying someone of lower social status. Warne died before the wedding could take place.
Potter began writing and illustrating children's books full time. Having become financially independent of her parents, she was able to buy a farm in the Lake District, which she extended with other purchases over time. In her forties, she married William Heelis, a local solicitor. She became a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to write and illustrate books for children. She published a total of twenty-three books.
Potter died in 1943, and left almost all of her property to the National Trust.
Potter's books continue to sell well throughout the world, in multiple languages. Her stories have been retold in various formats, including a ballet, films and in animation.
Other Great Animal Fantasies
Amazing Tales
Some true stories are so incredible, that they are almost unbelievable. They seem more fantasy than real. The ones we've listed here are like that. They tell about the unbelievably strong bond that can be formed between special people and special animals.
Incredible Journey
The Incredible Journey
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 11/11/2009)
A quite unlikely trio, 2 dogs and a cat, travel across miles of wilderness in search of their human family. What a beautiful and almost unbelievable story.
Born Free
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 11/11/2009)
Born free, as free as the wind blows... this touching, amazing story about a lioness who was rescued and raised by Joy Adamson is another tale about that special bond that sometimes occurs between humans and animals.
Homeward Bound & Born Free Films
![Homeward Bound (The Incredible Journey) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21XR4BXERAL._SL75_.jpg)
![Born Free & Living Free (2pc) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QWHEQF7HL._SL75_.jpg)
Homeward Bound Vid
Be Prepared, Get Out Your Kleenex Now
Cats Figuring It Out - Mysteries & Other Cat Books
The inquisitive feline is always sticking his or her nose into everything, so cats helping to solve mysteries is not too hard to imagine. Oh, if only they could talk...
Cat Who Mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (Cat Who...)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
The first in Lillian Jackson Braun's entertaining mystery series featuring Ko Ko and Yum Yum, two Siamese cats, who allow multi-millionaire and retired newspaper writer, James Qwilleran, to live with them. The first 26 books are the best. Braun's last few offerings have been a little below her normal standard, but are still very entertaining.
More Cat Who Books
About the Author: Lillian Jackson Braun
Lilian Jackson Braun (born 1913) is an American writer. She is well-known for her light-hearted series of "The Cat Who..." mystery novels. The "Cat Who" books center around the life of former newspaper reporter James Qwilleran, and his two Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum in the fictitious small town of Pickax located in Moose County, "400 miles north of everywhere." Although never formally stated in the books, the towns, counties and lifestyles described in the series are generally accepted to be modeled after Bad Axe, Michigan (located in the "Michigan Thumb") where she resided with her husband for many years until the mid 1980's. Many also believe that the culture and history of the Upper peninsula of Michigan are represented in the series as well, which is quite possible as it is indeed a fictitious location.
Lilian Jackson Braun began her writing career as a teenager, contributing sports poetry for the Detroit News. She later began working as an advertising copywriter for many of Detroit's department stores. After that stint, she worked at the Detroit Free Press as the "Good Living" editor for 30 years. She retired from the Free Press in 1978.
Between 1966 and 1968, she published three novels to critical acclaim: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and The Cat Who Turned On and Off. In 1966, the New York Times labeled Braun, "the new detective of the year." The rising mystery author disappeared from the publishing scene for 18 years. The blame came from the fact that mystery novels were starting to focus on sex, violence, and foul language, and Braun's light-hearted books were not welcome in this new territory. It wasn't until 1986 that the Berkley Publishing Group reintroduced Braun to the public with the publication of an original paperback, The Cat Who Saw Red. Within two years, Berkeley released four new novels in paperback and reprinted the three mysteries from the sixties. Braun's series became an instant best seller once again....
Lydia Adamson's Alice Nestleton Mysteries
Amazon Error: Could not open remote connection
Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.Cat Fantasy Multimedia and Books
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliot was the foundation of the wonderful and glorious production, Cats. Everyone should read and see both. Another favorite fantasy / science fiction film of mine is The Cat from Outer Space. This is one that will be enjoyed by young and old, alike.
Amazon Error: Could not open remote connection
Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.Vote for Your Favorite Animal Fantasies
Vote for one on the list or add your own. Don't forget to vote for it.
Other Lenses about Animals that You Might Enjoy
-
Childrens Audio Books
-
Childrens books are a great way to learn about the world. Unfortunately many kids don't like to read, so, it's important to show them how interesting books can be. Childrens Audio Books are a good method and a first step to introduce books to childr...
-
Our Pets' Stories
-
Through the years we have had many pets and somehow, in the grand scheme of things, most of them found and adopted us. This is the story of some of the beloved animals that have shared our lives. Though many of them were not with us as long as we wou...
-
Creatures of the Night
-
When the sun goes down, the night creatures come out of their nests, dens and boroughs. This is their time to shine. They have adapted to living by the light of the moon and stars, so that the cycle of life (producer, consumer and predator) will cont...
-
Nature Postage Celebrates Animals
-
This lens celebrates wildlife and says, "We love and protect animals". It is here that the creatures of Louisiana, both wild and domesticated, are spotlighted (in a positive way) by displaying their photo on postage stamps. Tips on attracting wildli...
-
The Redwall Series!
-
Brian Jacques definitely started an exciting series when he published his first book, "Redwall". The book was a great tale of a horde of rats attacking a large abbey for animals, and a young mouse's rise to Warrior of Redwall Abbey (see bel...
If You Enjoyed This Lens...
The Humane Society of the United States seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals-a world that will also benefit people. We are America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling th
Jot down something about your favorite book.
mollywobbles wrote
I am busy reading the 6th book in the sword of truth series, by Terry Goodkind.... It's a really well written series, but I wouldn't reccomend a minor under 16 or so reading it because of the amount of violence and disturbing parts in the chapters.........
Posted October 27, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Children need to be encouraged to read. Its a lifetime habit that will serve them well.
Great lens
Lizzy
Posted October 26, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Great lens! Lensrolled to The Redwall Series!. Thank you so much for featuring it here.
Posted August 17, 2008
Links to Authors, Book Lists & More Info
Internet Book List :: Author Information: Lilian Jackson Braun
A comprehensive and easily accessible database of more...0 points
Redwall Abbey: The Official Redwall Web Site
Welcome to Redwall Abbey, the personal web site of more...0 points
Lydia Adamson
A bibliography of Lydia Adamson's books, with the more...0 points
E.B. White
Book list of E.B. White0 points
Robert C O'Brien
A bibliography of Robert C O'Brien's books, with t more...0 points
Links to More Animal Stories
- Feedmysearch needs your opinion, help and advice
- Dear feedmysearch user, Feedmysearch would require some serious server upgrade and a bit of developm...
by naturegirl7
We are Master Gardeners and... (more)
Explore related pages
Explore Worldwide Wildlife- Explore Worldwide Wildlife and their environment. Find out what you can do...
Books That Both Kids and Parents Will Love- Do you get tired of hearing about "educational" books and how reading to your ki...
Snub-nosed Monkey 101- The Snub-nosed monkeys are found in the Yunling Mountains in south-western China...
Hyenas Laugh?- Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are social carnivores that live in groups calle...
Exuberant Emotional Elephants 101
- Researchers and viewers alike have witnessed the emotions of Joy; Grief; Love; R...
Christmas Stories By Linda Randall- Idea Girl Consulting - Christmas Stories By Linda Randall -I have written about...
