Books About Buffalo And Bison

The Best Buffalo And Bison Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for our other guide?

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

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Looking for excellent children's books about buffalo and bison? 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 Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Buffalo And Bison

Makoons
Sale price
$1597
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Makoons

By Louise Erdrich · Book #5 in the Birchbark House series

An Ojibwe boy's vision warns of hard times as his family learns to hunt buffalo on the plains.

176 pages· 29,837 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 865 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Makoons and his twin, Chickadee, have traveled with their Ojibwe family to the Great Plains of Dakota Territory, where they must learn to become buffalo hunters and help their people make a home in a new land. But Makoons has had a vision that foretells great challenges, ones his family may not be able to overcome. The fifth Birchbark House novel.
Buffalo Wild!
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2021

Buffalo Wild!

By Deidre Havrelock, Azby Whitecalf (Illustrator)

A magical night brings buffalo from the sky, fulfilling a child's dream.

32 pages
4.0 Goodreads · 182 ratings
$18.95Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Declan dreams of seeing real buffalo, inspired by his kokum's stories. One night, the sky opens, and majestic herds descend, turning dreams into reality. As the buffalo return to the wild, Declan witnesses a breathtaking spectacle. This enchanting tale celebrates the buffalo's significance to Indigenous Peoples and their efforts to restore these creatures to their rightful place. What wonders await when legends come alive?
My Bison
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2018

My Bison

By Gaya Wisniewski

A girl awaits her bison friend each winter, but one year he doesn't return.

36 pages
4.8/7 Bookroo·3.9/5 Goodreads · 116 ratings
$17.95Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In a forest clearing, a girl forms a unique bond with a bison, meeting each winter by the fire. As years pass, their friendship deepens, but one winter, the bison doesn't return. Now grown, she searches the woods, learning that while her friend is gone, his presence remains in her heart. This tender tale explores friendship and the passage of time, inviting readers to ponder the enduring connections we hold dear.
Where the Buffaloes Begin
Sale price
$1049
Picture Book · Ages 7–10 · 1981

Where the Buffaloes Begin

By Olaff Baker, Stephen Gammell (Illustrator)

A young boy seeks the truth behind a sacred buffalo legend.

The New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (1981)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (1981)Caldecott Honor (1982)
48 pages· 2,868 words· Est. 23 min read-aloud
3.8 Goodreads · 291 ratings
$10.95Save 4%
Hardcover
Summary: Little Wolf, captivated by an ancient legend shared by his tribe's elder, dreams of witnessing the mystical birth of buffaloes at a sacred lake. As he embarks on this quest, will he uncover the truth behind the legend, or will the mystery remain hidden? The journey promises revelations and challenges that could change everything he believes.
Blue Bison Needs a Haircut
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2022

Blue Bison Needs a Haircut

By Scott Rothman, Pete Oswald (Illustrator) · Blue Bison series

Blue Bison's hair grows wild as he learns patience in a world of closed barber shops.

40 pages· 546 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
3.5 Goodreads · 587 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Blue Bison loves being neat, but with barber shops closed, his hair is out of control. Frustrated, he struggles to wait patiently as his parents offer advice. Can his little sister, Bubblegum Bison, help him find a solution? This hilarious tale explores the challenge of waiting and the unexpected answers that can come from family.
Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Bison
Sale price
$474
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019

Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Bison

By Jennifer Bové · Ranger Rick series

What if you became a bison? Discover their world and decide if you'd want to stay.

32 pages· 660 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud
3.9 Goodreads · 54 ratings
$4.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Imagine transforming into a bison, grunting and munching grass. Ranger Rick guides young readers through this wild adventure, comparing bison life to our own. Would you prefer a bath or a dirt wallow? With vivid photos and fun facts, this book invites kids to explore bison habits and habitats. A hands-on activity adds to the fun, making it perfect for early readers eager to learn and play. Dive into the bison's world and decide if you'd want to live like one!
Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2024

Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath

By Scott Rothman, Pete Oswald (Illustrator) · Blue Bison series

A bison avoids bath time until a sticky mess and a water shortage force a creative solution.

40 pages· 480 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
3.5 Goodreads · 252 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Bubble Gum Bison will do anything to dodge bath time, even escaping through a window. But after a muddy, sticky adventure leaves her covered in gum and feathers, she finally agrees to wash up. There's just one problem—no water! Could her brother Blue Bison's ramming habit be the cause? Join Bubble Gum Bison in a hilarious quest to solve this sudsy dilemma, where unconventional problems meet unconventional solutions. Will they find a way to clean up, or will Bubble Gum Bison remain a sticky spectacle? Dive into this laugh-out-loud tale of mischief and creativity.
Bison
Sale price
$1049
Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 2013

Bison

By Valerie Bodden · Amazing Animals series

Discover the majestic bison, North America's largest mammal, and its fascinating traits.

24 pages· 545 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
3.7 Goodreads · 24 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Explore the world of bison, North America's largest mammal, and their European cousins, the wisent. Roaming plains and forests, these shaggy giants captivate with their unique features and behaviors. Dive into their distinctive shoulder hump and wallowing habits through engaging STEM-focused text and stunning photography. Uncover a Native American folk tale revealing how the bison got its hump. Perfect for young learners, this resource enriches student reports and life science lessons with a table of contents, index, and further resources. Embark on a journey into the life of these national mammals.
Buster Hits the Trail
Sale price
$379
Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2005

Buster Hits the Trail

By Marc Brown · Postcards From Buster series

A father-son trip to South Dakota reveals unexpected adventures.

48 pages· 1,057 words· Est. 12 min read
3.4 Goodreads · 20 ratings
$3.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Join Buster and his father on a journey through South Dakota, where each postcard home captures their encounters with the majestic Crazy Horse monument and roaming buffalo. What surprises await them in this land of history and nature?
The American Bison: The Buffalo's Survival Tale
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1348
Chapter Book · Ages 9–13 · 2021

The American Bison: The Buffalo's Survival Tale

By Andy Hirsch · History Comics series

Discover the mystery of the vanished buffalo herds and their path to revival.

128 pages· 7,605 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.0 Goodreads · 172 ratings
$13.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Explore the dramatic decline of the American buffalo, once 30 million strong, now nearly extinct. Journey through history to uncover how these majestic creatures vanished from the prairies and what it takes to restore their legacy. Will the great herds ever roam again?
Ages 3–6Picture Book Club

Great books for ages 3–6, every month.

Two hardcover picture books a month, perfect for reading aloud, with coordinated spines for a beautiful shelf.

See the Picture Book ClubFrom $19.95 a box
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