Celebrating World Animal Day: 8 Must-Read Books For Young Animal Lovers

This classic book is about a young child writing a letter to the zoo, asking them to send him a pet. The animals arrive in boxes, one by one, but not one of them is perfect. The elephant is too big, the camel too grumpy and the monkey too naughty! All the animals are returned to the zoo. Finally, the zoo sends the perfect little animal. But what could it be? Your little one will fall in love with this cute, lift-the-flap book, which is full of delightful surprises.

Activity: Ask your child which animal they would like to keep as pets and why. Then get them to draw and colour their future pets! Also, ask them to think of names for their pets.

This book takes your child through the goodnight routines of various animals. The peacock and chick do a fan dance before kissing goodnight, while the parrot and chick klick-clack their beaks and kiss goodnight! With cute illustrations, this book is sure to become your child's favorite bedtime read.

Activity: Let your child come up with a fun and unique way to say goodnight to everyone at home, or simply imitate an animal from the book!

This 1985 classic has stirred many a child's imagination. Paddington Bear has traveled from Peru and is waiting at the Paddington Station, wearing an old hat and coat and carrying a smudgy suitcase. The Browns meet the bear at the station, and soon their lives turn upside down. Poor Paddington has a knack for getting into trouble. His hilarious encounters make this book a riotous read!

Activity: Make animal face masks out of paper plates and enact a funny skit with your child.

This fascinating novel is the story of a wolf cub who is suddenly separated from his family. His quest to find a new home takes him on a trip filled with risks and adventures. The cub encounters hunters, starvation, wild animals, and forest fires before he reaches a place he's ready to call home.

This book is inspired by the true story of a young male wolf called OR-7, whose incredible journey of nearly 1,000 miles was tracked electronically from the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon.

Activity: Use the map in the book and trace the path of OR-7, the wolf that inspired this story. Then, read about the different habitats along the route, the weather, the availability of food, water, and so on.

This beautiful novel is narrated by a majestic black horse, Black Beauty. He grows up in a loving home with his kind master, Farmer Grey. But circumstances change and he's passed into the hands of various owners. Black Beauty soon learns that not all humans are kind. One of the best-selling books of all time, Black Beauty will teach your child important lessons on kindness and empathy, lessons that will remain with him for a very long time.

Activity: The title of the book is simple and straight. Ask your child if they can come up with three alternative titles for the book.

Inspired by a true story, this novel is the narrative of Ivana, a fun-loving gorilla who spends his time looking at people through the glass and entertaining them. Although he's lonely, he doesn't miss his life in the jungle. But when Ivan meets Ruby, a baby elephant, his perspective on life changes. This is a powerful story that is humorous, sad, shocking, and uplifting at the same time.

Activity: Sit down for a discussion with your child on how they feel about animals kept in captivity. Talk about the pros and cons of keeping animals in zoos.

This great book explores the incomparable bond between man and dog. It's an emotional story of a little boy, Billy, and his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy and his dogs set out on many adventures, and soon become one of the most formidable hunting teams in the Ozark Mountains. But there's a tragedy waiting to happen. This stirring tale is a real tearjerker, but your teen will hang on to it all the same.

Activity: Whenever your child finds the book too overwhelming, encourage them to name what they are feeling and write down their sentiments.

This heartwarming tale is the story of Denny, an upcoming car racer, and his beloved dog, Enzo. Enzo is with Denny through all his ups and downs. Enzo witnesses Denny's marriage, the birth of his daughter, Zoe, and finally Denny's child-custody battle. In the end, Enzo is instrumental in helping Denny get Zoe back. This is an unputdownable read, where Enzo teaches us that life, like racing, is not simply about going fast.

Activity: Encourage your teen to start an animal welfare club with their friends. The club can spread awareness about animal welfare, raise funds for animal charities, and keep an eye out for injured or starving stray animals.