Classic Animal

“All my life I’ll think of you, I promise I will. I won’t ever forget you.” A lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a white lion. A lyrical and moving tale of a young boy growing up in Africa, and his lifelong friendship with a...

Black Beauty is the classic horse story, a beautiful and touching tale told by the title character himself. Set in Victorian London, it follows Beauty's life and changing fortunes as he moves from owner to owner. As the horse encounters new experiences and new friends who reveal their own histories, the story quietly paints a fascinating portrait of how animals were treated during that era.

In these selections, an animal plays an important role in the action or plot of the story. The animals in these stories are real or are stand-ins for humans: Sredni Vashtar by Saki (H. H. Munro) Kholstomer, The Story of a Horse by Leo Tolstoy A Dark-Brown Dog by Stephen Crane Kashtanka by Anton Chekhov The Cat That Walked By Himself by Rudyard Kipling The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe The Fly by Katherine Mansfield The Boar-Pig by Saki (H. H. Munro) The Tiger Guest by Pu Songlbying Jackals and Arabs by Franz Kafka

Hugh Lofting's wonderfully whimsical story of a doctor whose love of animals allows him to learn their language and becomes a splendid "animal doctor"... with their help. And he even goes all the way to Africa to cure the sick monkeys...it's charming!

In this charming classic story, Harry, the little white dog with black spots, runs away before bath time and plays outside until he changes into a black dog with white spots.

The author of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize winning novel The Great Glass Sea returns with a gripping adventure story that probes the expansive, shifting wilds of the Sierra Nevada during the Gold Rush. “Like a patient pine or ancient mineral, Josh Weil watches history and humanity in What...

Aurelia George was prepared to let the world believe she was dead. Tangled in the arms of her mountain men and bound only by the rules they make, the twice disgraced pop star had found her happily ever after. Or so she thought. The only thing surprising about learning her uncle wants her dead is...

From bestselling author B.B. Reid comes a wicked retelling of your favorite fairytale. America’s sweetheart has been canceled. From teen star to international phenom to the biggest celebrity in the world, Aurelia George has suddenly found herself on the other side of adoration. The public...

Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty teams up with Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin to bring young readers this fun and exciting illustrated series about school, sport, friendship and family. Ash is so excited to get a NEW PUPPY! He is full of energy and ready to play, but every game Ash...

For centuries, children and adults have treasured the stories handed down by Aesop, a slave who lived in ancient Greece approximately six centuries B.C. Known for their charm and simplicity, these simple tales feature brief adventures of animals, birds, and beasts - with a message hidden in each narrative. Every child should meet up with "The Hare and the Tortoise", "The Ants and the Grasshopper", "The Goose and the Golden Egg", "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing", and other characters.

A mother becomes obsessed with finding the cure to a mysterious ailment that is spreading throughout her New England town in this kaleidoscopic novel about love's capacities in a changing world. “And if we weren’t afraid of the darkness? What world would we make then?” Eve is at a breaking...

Bambi: A Life in the Woods was written by Austrian writer Felix Salten and first published in 1929. It is the story of Bambi, a roe deer, whose wide-eyed curiosity leads him to explore all the wonders of the forest. He is enchanted by the songs, scents, and all the diverse creatures who live in the trees alongside him. But within these moments of discovery lies the ever-present danger of predators—one predator in particular: man.

Experiencing a story read out loud is one of the oldest forms of entertainment there is. Fireside Reading is a way to slow down, reconnect with the timeless wisdom of great books and rediscover the simple pleasure of being read to. Join Gildart Jackson in front of a cozy fire as he reads Black Beauty by Anna Sewell to you and your family from beginning to end.

Half wolf, half dog, White Fang fully understands the cruelty of both nature and humans. After nearly starving to death during the frigid Arctic winter, he's taken in first by a man who "trains" him through constant whippings, and then by another who forces him to participate in vicious dogfights. Follow White Fang as he overcomes these obstacles and finally meets someone who offers him kindness and love. Retold from the Jack London original by Kathleen Olmstead.

Two classic tales by Beatrix Potter, The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, narrated by Lavender Hart.

Brave little Rikki Tikki Tavi is a mongoose who finds himself the target of the deadly cobra Naga. Can the courageous little critter protect himself and the family he loves from the fearsome bite of the cobra?

Perico era un conejo muy inquieto. Era bastante distinto de sus hermanas, tres conejitas muy buenas y obedientes. Él no quería más que correr aventuras; y un día, desoyendo los consejos que le había dado su mamá, se metió en el huerto del señor Mac Gregor. Se lo estaba pasando de maravilla comiendo zanahorias tiernas, lechuguitas..., cuando, de repente…¿Queréis saber lo que le pasó al travieso de Perico? Pues no lo dejéis para más tarde: escuchad este audiocuento.

This is a collection of heartwarming short stories about a courageous border collie that lived in what was called The Place on Sunnybank Farm near Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Lad was a real-life dog, but author Terhune took liberties to tell fictional tales about his favorite pet.

Written nearly a century and a half ago, this book was the first major animal story in children’s literature, although the author had intended it for adults. Anna Sewell had been crippled at a young age, but could still drive a horse-drawn carriage. She often drove her father to the station to go to work and later picked him up to bring him home. During those times, she saw there was often inhumane treatment of horses and was inspired to write about it in order to, as she said, “To induce kindness, sympathy, and an understanding treatment of horses.”

Established early in the last century as a memorial to O. Henry, this annual collection has consistently offered a remarkable sampling of contemporary short stories. Each year stories are chosen from large and small literary magazines and a panel of distinguished writers is enlisted to award the...