Literary Pets
By Amy Groening
Growing up, I developed a strong affinity for animals. It went hand in hand with my love of reading. Guineapigs in The Magician’s Nephew, the many dogs of 101 Dalmatians, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, the horses in Black Beauty and My Friend Flika, friendly spiders and a hopeful pig in Charlotte’s Web, the innumerable wild yet inexplicably amiable animals in Owls in the Family, Incident at Hawk’s Hill, Julie of the Wolves, The Music of Dolphins… children’s literature is packed with inspiring and heart-warming stories of the important bonds between humans and animals. The last I counted I’ve cared for over 50 pets in my lifetime, and I’m not the only Word Alive Press team member with an appreciation for pets!
When Pet Month rolled around, we got together and took stock of some of our favourite Word Alive Press pet books. How could we resist revisiting these stacks of furred, feathered, and finned companions? Today we’re sharing these pets with you!
The Fluffy Puppies Get Muddy, by Vicky Govier
A day of exploration takes a messy turn for the adorable little Shih Tzus Diesel and Ruby in the first of Vicky’s Fluffy Puppies Series books!
The Adventures of Long Dog D’Silvo and The Adventures of Long Dog D’Silvo and Son, by Lori Feldberg.
A feisty Dachshund and his Doggie Gang travel the East coast fighting crime in this early reader’s chapter book series.
Grandma, Tell Me a Story, by Cheryl Lynne Howard
A collection of stories from Cheryl’s hobby farm, you’ll meet cats, rats, dogs, ponies, donkeys, goats, turtles, and much more in this fun illustrated children’s devotional.
The Sandi Sellen book collection
From adventurous ducks in The Ducks’ Vacation to the energetic farm animals of Farmer Frickle Whizzlehipple Thinks Big, to jungles, fields, and mountains of dancing animals in The Dancing Animals, Sandi Sellen knows how to craft an animal tale to keep children entertained.
Tadeo Turtle, by Janis Cox
Tadeo has an important lesson to learn about gifts, and Janis Cox is here to share it through her own gifts: beautiful watercolour paintings and an inspiring story to match.
The “Shhh! It’s A Surprise!” Series by Donna Simard
Join Michael, Rebecca, and their whole family as they take turns playing their favourite game: Shhh! It’s a Secret! Can you guess their favourite animals? Michael and Dad at the Zoo, Scrub-a-Dub-Dub, Rebecca’s in the Tub, A Sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa’s Farm
Retribution, by Karen Beintema
Kind hearted, hard-working Daphne Turnbull is unwittingly caught in the crosshairs of a bitter soldier’s vengeance plot gone awry. Animals might not take center stage in this book, but a shared appreciation for horses, and the gift of a sweet little puppy, play an unexpected role in healing the emotional and spiritual wounds of these characters. Read Karen’s post on how her love of horses influences her work here
A Lifetime of Hunting, by Derrell Albert Rodine
Derrell Albert Rodine devotes an entire chapter to the faithful furred friends that accompanied him over his many years of hunting. In the chapter, “Dogs I Have Known”, we meet labs, German Shorthaired Pointers, Springer Spaniels, and more, complete with beautiful photographs of these wonderful companions.
About this Contributor:
Amy Groening is a project manager at Word Alive Press. She is a passionate storyteller with experience in blogging, newspaper reportage, and creative writing. She holds an Honours degree in English Literature and is happy to be working in an industry where she can see other writers’ dreams come to life. She enjoys many creative pursuits, including sewing, sculpture and painting, and spends an embarrassingly large amount of time at home taking photos of her cat committing random acts of feline crime.