Best of
Animal-Fiction

2011

The Redwall Collection


Brian Jacques - 2011
    An enthralling tale is jam-packed with the things we long for in a great adventure: danger laughter, hairbreadth escapes, tragedy, mystery, a touch of wonder a truly despicable villain and a hero we can take to heart.

The Storm


Dayna Lorentz - 2011
    Where is his boy? Will he ever return? And what will Shep do in the meantime, now that the extra bowls of food -- not to mention all those tasty things he found in the big cold box -- are gone?Then another dog shows up at Shep's window and convinces him to escape. There's food outside, and a whole empty city to explore. Shep just wants to go home . . . but the adventure of a lifetime is just beginning.

The Girl Who Remembered Horses


Linda Benson - 2011
    But Sahara has recurring dreams of riding astride on magnificent animals that run like the wind. At the Gardener's Camp, she discovers a valuable book and learns that her visions are real. But how can she persuade others of the ancient bond between horses and humans, when she is labeled just a foolish girl? When Sahara discovers a helpless young horse, she must use both her courage and inborn knowledge to keep the animal safe, convince others of the true worth of horses, and learn the secret of her real identity.

Ripple


Tui Allen - 2011
    This book is that story. Are we the last intelligent beings in the developed universe to hear it?Live awhile in Ocean Mind. Be prepared to forget your human material obsessions as you slip away and dance the waves with the young female dolphin Ripple. A divine narrator of the Hereafter sweeps you from Ripple's life in the unimaginably distant past to the not-so-distant future where you can see Ripple's impact on modern humanity. Follow Ripple as she negotiates the beauties and horrors of the ancient oceans and falls in love with the fighter Cosmo in the wild surf of Point Savage. Be there beside her when love stimulates her to a single achievement which brings renown to this planet, changes the universe forever, exalts the angels and ensures Ripple’s fame will outlive the planet itself.

Dolphin Way: Rise of the Guardians


Mark Caney - 2011
    The book is aimed at adult readers, but will appeal to young adults (teenagers) too.Dolphin culture evolved over millions of years so that they could remain perfectly attuned with their world, Ocean. Unlike man, they have created an almost utopian society without feeling the need to manipulate their environment, collect possessions or wage war. But the growing pressure of man’s activities become intolerable and in frustration one faction seeks an aggressive new path. They make a shocking departure from the Way — the ancient philosophy that has guided them so well through the millennia.Sky, a male dolphin close to becoming an Initiate in the Way, unwillingly finds himself caught up in the violent consequences. To save the lives of his closest friends he will have to risk the worst punishment his clan can inflict and must decide between the two females who challenge everything he believes in.

Hotey


Josephine Bailey - 2011
    Set at the turn of the 19th century against the vast landscape of the American South West, Hotey is an inspiring adventure story. In the donkey's quest to find his home, he meets and learns life lessons from a bird, a mule, a horse and one courageous human. He will find friendship, loyalty and love but he will make an even greater discovery; he will find himself. Cowboys, cattle wars, silver mining and sheepherding are just some of the surprises in store for the unwitting hero of Hotey. Lost, taken from his herd and captured, he never gives up hope. The unforgettable characters in this Western-themed, coming-of-age, fable will touch and delight the hearts of readers from ten to one hundred and ten. Hotey supports Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue.

Shark Wars


E.J. Altbacker - 2011
    For eons, the Big Blue has prospered under Shiver Law, and the delicate balance of sea life kept sacred. Until now.Rising sea temperatures and overfishing have caused food to become scarce, and the battle for new hunting grounds has brought with it corruption and warfare.Now, with the ocean on the brink of chaos, a young reef shark named Gray - exiled from the safety of his peaceful reef home - must venture deep into Open Water to unlock the secrets of his destiny and bring peace back to the ocean. But first, he'll have to discover the truth about who - and what - he really is.

The Whalesong Trilogy


Robert Siegel - 2011
    And "sehnsucht," that insatiable longing wakened by the siren song of the sea, calling us back to its dark depths: these are the elements woven into a tapestry of wonder and enchantment by Robert Siegel.Here is the story of Hruna the humpback whale, from birth marked for greatness by his size and courage. As days of carefree frolicking give way to adolescence, Hruna prepares for the Lonely Cruise, the rite of passage into adulthood, by visiting the Great Whale who lives on the ocean floor. There he learns the myth of origins and receives his true name in preparation for the swift adventures and narrow escapes that propel him into the ultimate challenge of leading his pod of whales in a desperate fight for survival.WHITE WHALE (#2)Whalesong introduced Hruna, a humpback whale, in an ecological parable of personal and spiritual growth. Now, in WHITE WHALE, meet Hruna's son, Hralekana, and enter a deep sea world that dazzles and delights.As he swims the oceans of the world, Hralekana, a magnificent great white whale, recounts his birth and frolicsome childhood—how he was teased for being all white, how he soon outgrew all his playmates, and how he came to discover the other inhabitants of the sea. He share traditional whale legends and warnings: to beware of great white sharks, killer whales, the giant squid, and most especially, humans, who sometimes capture sea creatures and make them perform strange games to earn their food—something that only dolphins, as natural show-offs, actually enjoy.Growing and learning his pod's feeding, mating, and migration habits, Hralekana is introduced to their moving and mysterious means of communication, such as the Song of Farewell, the Song of the Hunt, and the Song of Distant Love.Embarking on the Lonely Cruise, a yearling's rite of passage, Hralekana experiences the adolescent's fear and exhilaration as he sings the Song of the Open Sea. His adventures expose him to dangerous oil spills, frightening visions of the wreck of the Titanic, a kind and ecologically concerned human whom he befriends, and finally, a terrifying encounter with the dark side of humanity.From his carefree childhood to the dramatic challenges of his adulthood, Hralekana's trials, triumphs, and laughter contain lessons on love, nature, and sacrifice, for him and for the rest of us.THE ICE AT THE END OF THE WORLD (#3)In The Ice at the End of the World, Robert Siegel brings the Whalesong trilogy to an exciting conclusion as Hralekana, the white humpback whale, and his human friend, Mark, struggle to prevent a nuclear catastrophe. Like the two previous books in the trilogy, this captivating tale evokes for readers of all ages the rich poetry of whales sea, and sky.(Includes a clickable Table of Contents.)**Acclaim for the novels of Robert Siegel**"Whalesong is one of those rare and wondrous things, a book which is born a classic. Robert Siegel has become one with the great song of the humpback whale, and the reader is drawn into the song with him. Hruna's tale of birth and life and terror and sacrifice and joy has the quality of true myth. Whalesong is an utterly beautiful book."—Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time"Siegel's tales have the magic of Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and the lyric majesty of Thoreau's prose."—Library Journal"It is almost as if Moby Dick was scaled down and re-written from the viewpoint of the whale."—Fantasy Review

Something's Lost and Must be Found: Six Short Tails of Inspiration on a Long Leash


Lisa Begin-Kruysman - 2011
    23,500 words) for dog-lovers and fans of Inspirational fiction; inspired by the search and rescue dogs of the soul. Based on the first one-hundred posts of a devoted Dog-blogger. Now with a seventh story! A pawsitively dog-friendly beach-read (even if your beaches aren't). A portion of all downloads will go to help some animals in need.

The House that Mouse Built


Maggie Rudy - 2011
    This is the story of how they met and came to live in a fabulously turned-out loaf of bread. Each lovingly crafted scene is packed with incredible details—from the salt shaker end table to the walnut shell cabinets (with hinges!) to the postage stamp art. Really, how could Musetta resist popping in for a nibble of the cheese that lay on the table, that stood in the house…that Mouse built?

Hairy Maclary and Friends - A Touch and Feel Book


Lynley Dodd - 2011
    This attractive production has different textures on every page spread. Children can now explore the textures of Bitzer Maloney all skinny and Bony, Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy and the rest of the gang.

Marco Moves In


Gerry Boland - 2011
    I suppose it helped that it was night, and that he was wearing a big black duffle coat with an enormous hood that covered his hairy head. He knocked on the front door three times, loud knocks that shook the house.Patrick makes his unexpected guest at home, while keeping him hidden from the neighbours, police and his very distractable mum!

Noisy Farm


Jessica Greenwell - 2011
    Little fingers will not be able to resist pressing the buttons to make the noises of all the animals on the farm, including a cockerel, cow, donkey, pig and a dog.