Books About Animal Friendships

The Best Animal Friendships Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Friendship, featuring 10 favorites and recommendations by age.

View the guide

Looking for excellent children's books about animal friendships? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Secret Zoo
#1 in Series
Howliday Inn
#2 in Series
Spike in the Kennel
Blackberry Juice
Series
The Shortlist

Our 6 Favorite Books About Animal Friendships

Little Pink Pup
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2010

Little Pink Pup

By Johanna Kerby

A runt piglet finds an unexpected family with a dachshund mom.

32 pages· 457 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
4.2/5 Goodreads · 672 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: When the Kerby family rescues a tiny piglet named Pink, they never expect him to find a new mother in Tink, a nurturing dachshund. As Pink grows alongside his puppy siblings, he discovers a heartwarming bond that defies appearances. Will this unlikely family thrive against the odds? Discover the touching tale of Pink and Tink, where love knows no bounds and family comes in all shapes and sizes.
Friends
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2011

Friends

By Catherine Thimmesh

Discover the truth behind unlikely animal friendships that defy expectations.

32 pages· 1,226 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
4.2/5 Goodreads · 324 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Explore the enchanting world of unlikely animal friendships, where a camel bonds with a pig and a polar bear befriends a sled dog. These true stories, captured from Siberia to Japan, challenge our views on compatibility and highlight the beauty of tolerance and kindness in both animals and humans. What secrets do these unique bonds hold?
The Secret Zoo
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2007

The Secret Zoo

By Bryan Chick · Book #1 in the The Secret Zoo series

Monkeys escape the zoo. A girl vanishes. Friends uncover hidden secrets.

295 pages· 50,968 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 8,040 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Noah and his friends face a mystery when his sister Megan vanishes after noticing strange animal behavior at the Clarksville City Zoo. As they sneak in to find her, they uncover secrets beyond their wildest imaginations. What mysteries lie within the zoo's walls, and can they solve them before it's too late?
Howliday Inn
Sale price
$759
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1982

Howliday Inn

By James Howe, Lynn Munsinger (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Bunnicula series

Strange howls and vanishing animals haunt a pet hotel. Can Harold and Chester solve the mystery?

195 pages· 29,362 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 14,955 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Harold the dog and Chester the cat are left at Chateau Bow-Wow while their family vacations. The eerie howls at night suggest werewolves, but soon animals start disappearing. As whispers of murder spread, Harold and Chester must unravel the mystery before it's too late. Will they uncover the truth behind the chilling sounds and missing pets, or will they become the next victims at this unsettling inn?
Spike in the Kennel
Sale price
$1248
Picture Book · Ages 2–6 · 2001

Spike in the Kennel

By Paulette Bogan

A dog's first kennel stay turns from scary to fun with new friends.

32 pages· 228 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud
3.3/5 Goodreads · 34 ratings
$12.99Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: Spike faces his first kennel stay with fear and confusion. Surrounded by strange dogs and unfamiliar routines, he feels homesick. But when the other dogs invite him for a secret nighttime adventure, Spike discovers that making friends can turn a daunting experience into an exciting one. Will he embrace this new world and find joy in unexpected places? Join Spike as he learns that change can be the start of something wonderful.
Blackberry Juice
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 6–10 · 2016

Blackberry Juice

By Sara Cassidy, Helen Flook (Illustrator) · Orca Echoes series

Cyrus finds an unexpected ally when stranded by the tide in a strange new home.

80 pages· 5,994 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.2/5 Goodreads · 25 ratings
$6.95Save 3%
Paperback
Summary: Nine-year-old Cyrus struggles to adapt to his new life in a quirky farmhouse, where nothing feels right. From blindingly yellow egg yolks to a donkey that can't bray, everything is off-kilter. But when the tide leaves him stranded, Cyrus discovers an unexpected friend who might just change everything. Can this unlikely bond help him find his place in this unfamiliar world?
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