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Books that Linger
Longer
By Holly E. Newton
Some of the best kids' books that stay
with us throughout our lives have to do with animals. Here are some
outstanding books geared for ages 9 through adult that will most
likely become lifetime favorites!
Click to Buy
 The
White Giraffe, by Lauren St. John, is a most unusual
book because the setting is in South Africa. Eleven-year-old Martine
has come to live in this beautiful country with its “...endless
expanse of trees, dusty shrubs, and grass, sprawling under an electric-blue
sky. On the horizon was a range of mauve mountains. A black eagle
circled lazily overhead.” Her parents have died in a
sudden fire leaving her with a grandmother she never knew. Now she’s
moving to a country filled with a different topography and animals
she’d only seen in cages and she’s filled with trepidation.
But her happiness slowly begins to come back as she experiences
a bond with a rare white giraffe that only she has seen. Her grandmother,
who appeared cold and reserved at first, begins to melt and express
her devotion to her only grandchild. The black and white drawings,
by David Dean, at the beginning of each chapter give hints of what’s
to come. Here is a story filled with sinuous imagery that will wrap
around you with the earthly sounds, sights and smells of this rich
country.
Click to Buy
The Trap, by John Smelcer, is an insightful look into
the harsh northern wilderness and the grave difficulties that surround
an old grandfather who is alone setting traps far from his village,
and a grandson, Johnny, who begins to worry about him. Grandfather
Albert soon runs into life-threatening trouble when the trap he
sets for a lynx or wolf catches his own foot. He immediately knows
that this situation is very serious. He’s far from his village,
he’s alone, he’s almost 80 years old, it’s winter
and thirty or forty degrees below zero - and the sun will soon be
setting. “For the first time in his life, Albert understood
what an animal must feel, what every animal he had ever trapped
must have felt.” And he discovers other trials when he
soon realizes he can’t get free and the day turns into days
and the nights become almost unbearable. Johnny begins to become
anxious about his grandfather. So he sets out to find his grandfather.
The chapters alternate between grandfather and grandson making the
danger and anticipation even more heightened. You won’t put
this book down until you come to the last page!
Cats to the Rescue: True Tales of Heroic Felines,
by Marilyn Singer, is full of stories about daring cats that will
probably be new to you. Each chapter gives real life examples of
courageous acts from felines. In the "Smoke Detector"
chapter, a family was awakened by their cat prancing all over the
4-year-old until she woke up and cried which saved the rest of the
family from fire. In the chapter, “World Traveler”,
a family moved from California to Oklahoma, the family cat was left
behind. But 14 months later, the cat had managed to cross deserts
and mountains to appear at the family’s homestead! This book
is full of remarkably true stories that are easy and interesting
to read.
Barbaro: America’s Horse, by Shelly
Fraser Mickle, relates the true story that captured all of America,
including children everywhere. This amazing horse was on the road
to the Triple Crown of horseracing when tragedy struck and her hind
leg was broken. The race had just begun and the horse was seriously
injured and unable to continue. As the world looked on, the owners
decided to spend thousands of dollars by rehabilitating the horse.
By using a new technique instead of euphemizing the horse, they
were able to lengthen Barbaro’s lifespan. This book chronicles
the young thoroughbred’s life with ease, understanding and
compassion. (Photos and a fold-out poster are also included.)
Click to Buy
 How
to Save Your Tail, or (if you are a rat nabbed by cats who really
like stories about magic spoons, wolves with snout-warts big, hairy
chimney trolls….and cookies too), by Mary Hanson,
is a hilarious read-aloud. Bob, the rat, is successfully distracting
the cats that have cornered him by telling them the most whimsical
and recognizable stories. Even though the stories are a bit distorted
as Bob retells them, that’s part of the laughable magic. The
comedic illustrations, by John Hendrix, help move the humor along.
And by the way, Bob also gets their hunger dislodged as well because
he’s baking cookies. (Which you may just want to do as you
read Bob’s tales to save his tail.)
Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the Woof Society (Words
of our Friends), by Betsy Byars and her two daughters,
Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers, is a great little chapter book that
proclaims interesting anecdotal stories of canines. The large illustrations,
by Erik Brooks, help make the chapters short and inviting to those
newer readers!
Click to Buy
 Monsters
and Water Beasts: Creatures of Fact or Fiction?, by
Karen Miller, and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier, raises the questions
about animals that have been asked for centuries. Is there a Big
Foot? Could there possibly be mermaids that live deep in the ocean?
This inviting book could motivate your young reader into doing some
of their own investigations.
Marley: A Dog Like No Other, by John Grogan,
is a hilarious look at a rambunctious Labrador who takes over the
author’s family. The story reads with genuine affection as
you learn about this dog who seems out of control, but full of energy.
A great read!
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Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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