The Next Best Book Club discussion

The Wind in the Willows without a doubt ---

Becky, you are my HERO!!!

Now that my girls are old enough to enjoy the same books I loved when I was a girl I've had on my mind a series of cat and dog books but I couldn't remember their names, the names of the books, the name of the author. If you all hadn't mentioned Bunnicula I'd still be searching, and sad.

I went to Amazon and bought the Bunnicula Collection, $4 for a Good - Used hardcover. You've made my week!!!

I'm currently reading the third in a great series that features magical animals. The main characters are an alley cat, a tree frog, and a bluejay. The first in the series is The Familiars.

Hi. I know of a couple books that are historical novels with animal narrators. However, I can't remember the authors' names right now.

ghen and Me — a kid's book about a mouse who lives with Benjamin Franklin
I Am the Great Horse — a novel told from the perspective of Alexander the Great's horse.

P.S. I just joined this group today.

Fluke by James Herbert. One of my favourite books of all time. I think it may also be a film

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites

Graphic novel collection of the stories of the pets of Burden Hill as they find themselves drawn deeper and deeper into the mysterious and supernatural occurrences in their small town. Gorgeously illustrated and wonderfully engaging characters.

I have a soft spot for books with anthropomorphic animals in them. Thanks for some of the suggestions above -I'll have to check them out!

Some personal favourites: The Horse and His Boy - Chronicles of Narnia, The Call of the Wild (though the dog doesn't really narrate it, it's very close 3rd person).

Many animal books seem to have a sad undertone to them, like Black Beauty, which made me cry and cry. I also like (as another person mentioned) Gerald Durrell's nature books about animals which are beautifully written and very funny.

I'm not really a "dog person" but I loved Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog and also The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Bring lots of tissues for either one of these books!

I loved The Incredible Journey. I love books about animals...obviously, since I wrote one. Bring this thread back to life! I have enjoyed reliving each of your selections. :)

Has anyone mentioned the Frog and Toad Together books by Arnold Loebel? Various adventures about two best friends.
For adults The Bear Went Over the Mountain by William Kotzwinkle - about a bear who finds a manuscript in the woods and tries to pass it off as his new novel.

These kinds of animal books are some of my favorites. My short list includes these that I highly recommend:
• Mrs Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H. (made into the movie called "The Secret of N.I.M.H.")
• Charlotte's Web
• Watership Down
• The Guardians of Ga'Houle series
• The Warriors series (begins with Into the Wild)
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle & Bunnicula series

When I began writing my own books, I also fell into writing this same type of fiction. If you'd care to take a look, please see:
• Bruce and the Road to Courage, the first book in (now) a series of four.

Winnie the Pooh
Charlotte's Web
Narnia
Dean Koontz has a thing about humanising Labradors in his books
Can't think of any others right now :)

Try Fire Bringer by David Clement-Davies Reminds me a lot of Watership Down and Animal Farm, which I love.

When I think animals as main characters I think of Animal Farm by George Orwell, a classic book.

I once wrote a short story called Shotgun Monkey where as you can imagine the main character is the title although he didn't talk.

Animals make for good characters for the most part.