Dog and Pony Show

It has come to my attention that a whole bunch of people have not read certain classics that are about animals.

I'd like to make this thread a resource of animal classics that might not be readily available on today's bookstore shelves.

So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce some of my good friends from childhood...and please, feel free to jump in at any point!

NOTE: I decided to number these books, not to rank them, but to make it easier to keep track of them

1. Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight

Many of you might be familiar with this story, even if you've never read it. From humble beginnings, first published in 1940, the concept of the dog facing dangers to find her master has been done and redone, in books, movies and television.

The book is best.

2. Sky Rocket: The Story of a Little Bay Horse by Margaret Cabell Self (1970)

In all of LT, only 9 of us have this one listed. My review:

Sometimes the memory of a book read years before is betrayed by a reread. Such is not the case of my latest foray, "Sky Rocket: the Story of a Little Bay Horse". After a forty odd year gap since the last time I read it, this story charmed and delighted me anew.

Based upon a true story, the narrative takes you and Sky Rocket from birth, through training and then into abuse and cruelty. How the little bay (14.1 1/2 hands) survives and then, when rescued in Deus ex machina fashion, blossoms into his full potential, makes exciting and satisfying reading.

If you are familiar with horses' care and training, you should appreciate the details within this book. If you're a novice to the world of dressage and sport jumping, you'll get an education. Either way, you'll enjoy a tale of riches to rags and back to riches for Sky Rocket.

Well recommended, and not just to adolescents!

3. The Cricket Winter by Felice Holman

A charming story of a boy, a cricket, and how they team together to assist a family of starving mice. Originally published in 1967 with gorgeous pen and ink drawings by Ralph Pinto, this is a story that has stayed with me since childhood.

4. Kazan by James Oliver Curwood

Written in 1914, this book follows a portion of the life of Kazan, a part wolf sled dog of the "frozen north".

The situations are based upon real events, and the people and animals feel genuine. This is not a Disney-type story, but a realistic look at life in the wilds of Canada more than a century ago. It is not a difficult read, but was intended for a general audience. I read it at age 10.

If you like this story, there is a sequel, Baree, Son of Kazan. Both have been reprinted recently, and should not be hard to find.



If the author's name sounds familiar, you might recall one of his other books, The Bear, which was made into a movie a few years ago.

6. Christmas Horse by Glenn Balch (1949)

Glenn Balch was a prolific writer of ranch/dog/horse stories. This book, while second in a series about the Tack Ranch, was the first book by this author that I read, and it's kind of my favorite.

Balch lived the ranching life, and it shows in the details of day-to-day tasks, dealing with the horses and other stock, the weather and the people who endured the hardships of the American West.



More information about Glenn Balch can be found here: http://balchipedia.wikidot.com/glennbalch

7. Irish Red by Jim Kjelgaard (1951)

Another #2 in a series that I love, here's my review:

This remains my favorite of the 'Red' books. Mike, son of 'Big Red', is a runt, and considered a "muttonhead" and worthless. Mike's problem is that he thinks very highly of himself and isn't interested in obeying unless he feels like it. How Mike begins to grow up and redeem himself in everyone's eyes makes for a very entertaining and enjoyable read, for adults and young people as well.

Kjelgaard's experiences living in the wilds makes these books "ring true", and there's enough excitement in the characters' lives to keep the reader glued til the end.



There are 45 books listed as having been written by this author in the 49 years of his life.

Misty of Chincoteague is Marguerite Henry's best known of her many books about animals, but my favorites were Brighty of the Grand Canyon and Cinnabar: The One O'clock Fox, often re-read!

I absolutely adored An otter's story and also liked A beaver's story (1957) by Emil Liers and borrowed them repeatedly from my school library.
_
'One of the few publications by a leading expert on the North American River Otter. Over his lifetime, Emil Liers had more than 90 pet otters, and observed extensively, corresponding with almost anyone interested in otters, but published very little formally. This fictionalized account of an otter's life contains anecdotes and observations from life and experience, with the dedication "To my friends the otters, with the prayer that the readers of this story may be impressed with the lovableness and intelligence of these little creatures".'

Also loved numerous horse stories and books about dogs.
I got lots of books through Scholastic Book Club including these two, Give a dog a bad name (Smoke across the Highlands - US title) by Nigel Tranter and The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell.

@ronincats, while I've ready many of Marguerite Henry's books, including my favorite, King of the Wind, I never read either of those titles...on the TBR list they go.

I don't think I've read anything by Emil Liers, a new author! Thank you, @avatiakh!

14. Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson (1927)

Not necessarily a children's book, this work explores the lives of the animals, and to a certain extent, the people of Devon, England. I know as a child that I skipped over certain passages that didn't interest me, but I do recall a lot about the otters and their lives.

15. Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune (1919)

Based upon the life of one of the author's collies, Lad: A Dog is a series of short stories originally published in magazines. Terhune went on to write many other books, including a series of sequels about Lad, his son Wolf, and other collies. Ignore the movie of the same name, read the book.

Lad, A Dog was one of my favorites as a kid too. It was in my grandmother's glass-fronted bookcase, but I think it belonged to my uncle, who was still a teenager living at home. I wonder what became of it. Here's one from that same bookcase that ended up in my home, though: Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings

My copy looks like this, a bit tattered, but still lovely!



I don't know if this falls strictly into your category of "classic stories about animals", but I thought I'd stretch it.

Lassie come home is probably my favourite dog book. One hundred and one dalmatians is another, but I class that with fantasy.

I tend to avoid the "wild animal biography" type books, such as Tarka, because I hate knowing that the animal dies at the end. I'm a wuss that way; I can read about human deaths but animal ones really get to me. That said, I did enjoy the Silver brumby series.

@Sakerfalcon, I know what you mean about the "animal dies at the end" sort of stories. Both Ernest Thompson Seton and Jean Craighead George wrote books like that. I read them, at least once, but rarely have read them again, I'm such a softie.

Have you read the sequel to The One Hundred and One Dalmatians? It's called The Starlight Barking, and isn't on my favorite list. I still have the copy I bought in the early 1970s, though.

@laytonwoman3rd, of course Uncle Remus qualifies! Funny thing, I've never read those...

I agree, The starlight barking isn't nearly as good. I do love Smith's adult, non-animal, non-fantasy novel I capture the castle though.

I'll put that on my "To Read" list, thank you.

17. Ajax: Golden Dog of the Australian Bush by Mary Elwyn Patchett (1963)



Girl, horse and dogs in the Australian outback. There are more in the series, but I'm unsure of the order:

Ajax and the Drovers
Ajax and the Haunted Mountain
Ajax the Warrior

If any of you have these, and would like to shed light upon the order, please speak up!

Addendum (11/12/13): the Ajax books are now in correct order...I hope!

LOL, I just did that...put them in approximate order by date published.

#9 & 11: speaking of small furry critters I found Life Story of a Badger to be a great read, it somewhat blurred the line between fiction & non fiction being a well researched account of the life of a badger, told from the badgers perspective.

I was going to say, Sakerfalcon, you don't want to read most Albert Payson Terhune then.Lad: a Dog survives and there are sequels, but he wrote a zillion of them, and the dog usually dies, as far as I can remember (read them in my teens). The one where the dog is shot because the adults think it is attacking a child when it is protecting her from a venomous snake is probably the most egregious.

It was after reading Sounder, Old Yeller, and Where the Red Fern Grows when I was 12 years old, that I resolved to never read another dog book.

But you HAVE read No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman, haven't you? Its protagonist has exactly that POV.

@SylviaC, read Savage Sam then.

And Jim Kjelgaard books.

Most of the Terhune books I have read don't end with the demise of the dog...in fact, Lad: A Dog certainly does NOT.

Addendum: I despised Sounder...

(21) Henri, I didn't find that title, but did find his books about a hare, a fox and an otter. Thanks for the recommendation!

19. Finn the Wolfhound by AJ Dawson (1908)



It's been a while since I read this one, but I do recall it's about a dog who becomes lost and wanders the wilds of Australia.

20. My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara (1941)



And Thunderhead, and The Green Grass of Wyoming

The Snuf (Scout) series is a great series about a dog in WW2 occupied Holland.

Also by Piet Prins is the Jack en Sheltie series.

If I were to read them now, I'd probably be rolling my eyes at the Christian content, but I read these as adventure books when I was around 10-12.

I could swear I've read Kazan as well btw.

more dogs in this thread.

Thanks for the additions, @JerryMmm. The "Scout" books are totally new to me.

I devoured the entire Black Stallion series as a kid--probably never was able to get hold of all 20 or so, but ended up loving Flame, The Island Stallion books, even better.



Re: the Terhune books--it's been 40 to 50 years since I read them, so my memory may be at fault, but I remember shedding loads of tears.

I loved The Black Stallion and Flame books as well, but sort of petered out somewhere around the one with "the girl".

Charlotte's Web and Bambi made me cry, too.

27) No problems, hope you enjoy them. I found the badger one to be quite interesting.

I too loved the Black Stallion series and owned most of them. Weirdly, The Black Stallion's blood bay colt and The Black Stallion's sulky colt were never published in Britain - maybe because they are about trotting, which isn't a sport over here.

I read Bambi once and deeply regretted it.

I really enjoyed Bambi. It must have been before I was entering my library reading here.

(36 & 37) I read Bambi in 4th grade: my reading teacher had a copy in the bookshelves and I was allowed to take it home. Recently I reread it, to see if I still liked it. I did, but on a different level than just the "animal" story.

As a fourth grader, I cut my teeth on Jack London's White Fang and The Call of the Wild, so perhaps that toughened a tender heart, so real life stories don't bother me (well, not too much), not unless they are extremely depressing, like Sounder.

@SylviaC, I've only been able to read Old Yeller once, but have reread Where the Red Fern Grows several times. I cry, yes, but then I cry over Disney cartoons, too.

@Sakerfalcon, too bad about those two books not being available in GB. There was another one I read, Born to Trot by Marguerite Henry. There's an interesting history behind the "tail-sitter" sport!

I mostly read girl's series as a child, but I did enjoy Black beauty and Junket by Anne H. White. More recently I read Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, but I didn't care of the tone somehow.

I've always meant to read The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, which is about a young boy who has a pet deer.

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

Mr. Popper loves to read about explorers of the Antarctic. One day, a package arrives for him, and it contains a penguin. As you can imagine, his life will never be boring again!

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack

Blitz by Hetty Burlingame Beatty

I can't believe it took so long for someone to mention Black Beauty! And another one I sobbed my way through several times as a child (both book and film) - The Incredible Journey.

One of my favourite dog-books is actually aimed at grown-ups - The Last Family in England, though I did have to write my own version of the last chapter to make it re-readable.

Ring of Bright Water is a book I loved. It is a true story about an otter.

I was scanning through the posts and was also amazed that Black Beauty didn not appear any earlier.

I suppose Winnie the Pooh doesn't count? :-)

The Call of Wild (mentioned earlier in the thread) was also a favourite of mine.

Farthing Wood and Watership Down also made an impact on me, particularly the latter.

#26 @fuzzi, I second a recommendation to read Firmin. I have his other book but have not read it yet. I loved the way he got the reader, i.e. me, to consider aspects of life that one does not think about normally.

#11 I remember enjoying Tarka the Otter.

I read as many Gerald Durrell books as I could get my hands on. His descriptions of his life with animals - both pets and then wild animals once he became an animal collector are hilarious. These are aimed at the whole family - not really children's books, but certainly suitable for them.

I did not add Black Beauty immediately, because it was on the 1001 list, linked above.

I've read it again, a few years ago, and still liked it...although I recall, as a child, wanting Ginger to show up, alive, near the end. Life is not like that. :(

The Incredible Journey was also on that list, or I would have included it sooner. I have avoided watching any movie based (loosely, I'm sure) on that book, I don't want to ruin it.

Winnie the Pooh is a wonderful series, too.

I've not read Ring of Bright Water, but recall seeing part of the movie, and crying. Tarka the Otter is back on my shelves, for a reread at some point.

Watership Down is a book I reread every couple of years, but I do not recommend the 'sequel': Tales From Watership Down...I gave my copy away after reading it.

Farthing Wood and Firmin and books by Gerald Durrell are being added to my huge TBR, thank you. :) Which Gerald Durrell should I read first?

@pgmcc, The Call of the Wild in an abridged version was one of the first real books I owned, and read. I was about 5 or 6. By the time I was 9, I was reading the unabridged version and White Fang. My original copy of the latter is on my bookshelves, but in such poor shape that it cannot be opened without the pages falling out. I keep it because it is special.

I also read The Jungle Books, unabridged, at that age, and shortly afterwards I was deep into Narnia.

I really liked the Farthing Wood books too.

fuzzi, the obvious starting point for Gerald Durrell is My family and other animals about his childhood on Corfu and the various creatures that shared their home.

The ones I know best are the ones I read in the sixties, and they are about an Africa that no longer exists, so if you read the Bafut Beagles or A Zoo in my Luggage be aware of the time they were written. I personally find these more interesting than his childhood memories.

On the other hand they are also the reading material my surgeon offered me after an emergency appendectomy while he still forbade me the long walk to the school library in the holiday. I think I might have enjoyed anything printed at that point!

There are a TON of Gerald Durrell books on bookfinder.com. I ordered My Family and Other Animals.

I also found and ordered a used/VG copy of Firmin and The Animals of Farthing Wood...where am I going to shelve these???? ;)

#52 ...where am I going to shelve these????

@fuzzi, that is a question I face every day, but I battle on and do not let it detract me from my mission of acquiring every book in the world; well, that's what it feels like sometimes.

While I heartily agree with pgmcc about Ring of Bright Water being a wonderful book I should also warn those who haven't read it that it will break your hearts. The film was shown on TV a while ago and my daughter (who, for some reason, at the age of 33, still hadn't read the book) rang me at the end in tears and yelled "Why didn't you warn me Mum!!!"

#54 Booksloth is right, not that she is ever wrong, but on this occasion she is right. Both the book and the film are heartbreaking, but both wonderful. Sniff! Sniff!

Sometimes a book can be heartbreaking but also wonderful, I agree @pgmcc. Where the Red Fern Grows is one.

Fuzzi, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is looking forward to finding out what you think of the Durrell and Farthing Wood books! I have Durrell's trilogy of Corfu books on Mount Tbr, which I really must take down and read soon.

At risk of taking the debate firmly into the realms of fantasy, I used to love the Redwall series when in my teens. The descriptions of the food alone make them worth a try!

We have a set of Redwall downstairs because my youngest son loved it, and I think I read one, but decided they were not my thing.

>58 MarthaJeanne:: I'm not sure how well the books would hold up if I reread them now. I will probably not try, just remember them fondly as part of my youth :-)

I read the first Redwall, last year I think, at the urging of some here. It was enjoyable, but I'm not in a hurry to read the rest. That's not a criticism, either. I gave it three stars!

#55 Booksloth is right, not that she is ever wrong, Still afraid of that smiting, Pete?

#61 Still afraid of that smiting, Pete?

You bet, oh Mighty Smiter of the Smitten.

After a quick perusal of this thread I noticed no-one has yet mentioned 'Doctor Dolittle' Hugh Lofting I am thinking of collectiong all his works (hopefully original editions) but they are rare and relatively expensive. I might just have to start with paperbacks.

Good addition, @guido47! I read a bunch of those.

Oh, I loved the Dr Dolittle stories too! The illustrations were wonderful and such an integral part of the books. My copies are mostly tattered Puffin paperbacks, but I do have hardbacks of Doctor Dolittle in the moon and Doctor Dolittle's post office although they too are battered. I think the Puffin paperbacks were the most recent editions to remain unedited - I believe that when they moved to a new paperback publisher the text was amended.

@Sakerfalcon, you just opened a can of worms (partly opened previously regarding The Wind in the Willows):

Why do publishers feel they can alter the text and not say so?

I have a copy of "The Jungle Books" (touchstone won't work, see here: http://www.librarything.com/work/9468398/book/80731855), illustrated by Eric Kincaid, mainly purchased for the absolutely GORGEOUS illustrations.



As I reread a passage from "Mowgli's Brothers", suddenly I realized it didn't sound right...

...they took out the "thee" and "thou" wording, and they took out Mother Wolf's name, "Raksha" from that chapter!

Here is the original text:

"And it is I, Raksha (The Demon), who answers. The man's cub is mine, Lungri--mine to me! He shall not be killed. He shall live to run with the Pack and to hunt with the Pack; and in the end, look you, hunter of little naked cubs--frog-eater-- fish-killer--he shall hunt thee! Now get hence, or by the Sambhur that I killed (I eat no starved cattle), back thou goest to thy mother, burned beast of the jungle, lamer than ever thou camest into the world! Go!"

There is NO notation anywhere in the book or cover indicating that it has been "edited".

Grumble, grumble, grumble...

>66 fuzzi: So what is the text from this book? (You're right, wonderful illustrations!)

PolyMon, it's at home, you'll have to wait until tonight for me to give you the edited form ::shudder::

From what I recall, they take out her name, and change the "thee" and "thou" to "you".

It doesn't read the same...

In case anyone wants to grumble about the editing of books, see my new thread, here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/160809#

That'll probably be tomorrow morning for me :P but no worries, I will be patient! ;) I agree though, "fixing" texts should not be allowed!

Or if they "fix" them, they should SAY so. Why hide it?

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Misty of Chincoteague series. Perhaps it was just a local thing? I haven't read the last one in the series. I enjoyed the others. I was appalled, however, on a visit to Assateague and Chincoteague how much merchandizing is done around the books. Not that I mind, in a general way, every store in town pushing good books, but just the same books everywhere got a bit old.

I haven't seen National Velvet and International Velvet mentioned either.

I think my favorite Gerald Durrell is actually Rosy is My Relative. I just recently acquired it in hardback. It is a very silly fictional book about Adrian Rookwhistle and his relative, Rosy. The title character is neither a dog or a pony, though. I've read many of his others and enjoyed them, too.

@MDGentleReader, originally I was just posting about books that were not included in the "1001" list of children's books, of which one that was listed was Misty. But she is welcome here as well. :)

My favorite of the Marguerite Henry books has to be King of the Wind.



I've not read International Velvet, only the original National Velvet.



I still remember her dysfunctional family, including her younger brother with his "spit bottle" that he wore on a string around his neck! Oh the things that stick in our minds...

Lost track of the beginning of the thread and that this was less common books.

International Velvet by Bryan Forbes 69 members, 13 editions, 3 stars
National Velvet 1,064 members, 10 reviews, 149 editions, 3.76 stars

There is a reason for the rating and # of members difference. Just sayin'.

I just added

Nifty, new to me!

(67) PolyMon, I have answered your question in the "Hands Off" thread:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/160809#


Here's another wonderful illustration.


And another, of Mowgli and Kaa


And one more...

I may have to find myself a copy of that book, it's just gorgeous!

Wow! That's Kincaid?
He really is uneven in his treatments.
That tiger is awesome!

Erik, of het klein insectenboek by Godfried Bomans is a wonderful book by one of the best Dutch writers and observers. Perhaps not uncommon among Dutch members, but certainly worth a wider international audience.

>80 JerryMmm: Aw my husband thinks he might have heard of that but for sure has not read it. Now I'm curious! Is it still in print?

in Dutch or English?

Dutch new at bol.com or probably any other bookstore.

English, only 2nd hand on amazon or such.

(80, 81, 82)
That book is available, and modestly priced as used.

From a search for "Godfried Bomans" and in English, on Bookfinder.com, the first 12 results of 27:

Used books: 1 - 25 of 27
# Bookseller Notes Price
1. Hippo Books
via

United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1994

$3.48
2. Thrift Books
via

United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1994
Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks.
$3.95
3. Hippo Books
via

United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1994
Used, Usually ships in 1-2 business days
$4.00
4.
United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994

$4.74
5.
United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994
used
$4.95
6.
United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994

$5.04
7.
United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994

$5.04
8.
United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994

$6.07
9.
United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994

$7.17
10. extremely_reliable
via

United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994
US Edition
$7.30
11. FastMedia
via

United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (Trade), 1994
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Good
$7.96
12. ExtremelyReliable_com
via

United States Hardcover, ISBN 0395652316
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1994
Houghton Mifflin. Hardcover. Good. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy. Ships Fast. Expedite Shipping Available.
$8.30

I love bookfinder.com!

:)

I recalled this being a classic (no idea if it was but that's how I described it when searching for the title/author), one I read from my high school library.
A. R. Lloyd - Kine

For some reason this book is memorable, another book I read from my high school library, which had some great books! :)
The Ancient Solitary Reign by Martin Hocke

I've answered several queries online looking for this book, and even one in person while waiting at the public library desk, someone mentioned they were looking for a book about an owl society. I was half listening and blurted the title and author out, and that was it.

There are books already mentioned that are some of my favourites, too. Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight. My public library had this cover by Marguerite Kirmse:


The book I grew up with by Glenn Balch was White Ruff.


Likewise, Irish Red by Jim Kjelgaard.


Marguerite Henry's books are great. My childhood books by her were Stormy : Misty's Foal and Justin Morgan Had a Horse


The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith, another high school library book.


Along with Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George.

I like the Scout books by Piet Prins, and the Black Stallion series, though I haven't read many so far. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, fantastic (just going through what you've mentioned, as it reminds me of other books).

Such as this one.
Moon-Dark by Patricia Wrightson


Loved Black Beauty, but I actually read the one retold by Jane Carruth.


The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford, another fantastic book.


Watership Down by Richard Adams, enjoyed that from my high school library too.


The Farthing Wood books are great, yes. Also, National Velvet by Enid Bagnold, another childhood book and the movie was great too.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story by Richard Bach is one I read in childhood.

Not long ago I saw an episode of The Brady Bunch where one of the parents, Mike possibly, was reading it, hah! It was very popular.

I love this one and pictured is the edition my high school library had. The Peppermint Pig by Nina Bawden.

Some more childhood favourites:

A Horse Named Doodlebug (Original title: Doodlebug) written and illustrated by Irene Brady


R My Name is Rosie by Barbara Cohen, which has a fantasy story within the realistic story. Definitely one of my favs.


Light a Single Candle, and the sequel, Gift of Gold, by Beverly Butler (in that excellent high school library!)


Mishmash and the Substitute Teacher by Molly Cone

There's an entire Mishmash series, but that must be one of the most commonly read during childhood since it was released by Scholastic.

Another special childhood fav.
My Wolf My Friend (Orig. title: Sasha, My Friend) by Barbara Corcoran


Fast-Talking Dolphin by Carson Davidson


Five True Dog Stories by Margaret Davidson

That is where I discovered Terhune, but have yet to read a few of his, though I have some.

Can I Get There By Candlelight? and Summer Pony by Jean Slaughter Doty


Silver Blaze (Merlin books, 32) by Lilias Edwards and Sally's Wonderful Summer by Ann Barry


Flight of the White Wolf by Mel Ellis


Wild Mustang, The Shy Ones, and Shadows, by Lynn Hall.


Not to forget James Herriot's veterinary autobiographies. Or the autobiography and sequels for Emma & I by Sheila Hocken.


Tan: a wild dog by Thomas C. Hinkle


The Secret Horse by Marion Holland


I Am David by Anne Holm


Mom, the Wolf Man and Me by Norma Klein


Princess by Carolyn Lane


Clarence Takes a Vacation and Clarence Goes to Town by Patricia Lauber


The Jinny horse series by Patricia Leitch.

The Voyage of QV66 by Penelope Lively


A Horse for X.Y.Z. by Louise Moeri


Walt Disney presents El Blanco - The Legend of the White Stallion by Rutherford Montgomery

wow.

Some more:

Blind Outlaw by Glen Rounds


Susan, Bill and the Wolf-Dog by Malcolm Saville


Vicki and the Black Horse by Sam Savitt


Oh yes, I also read The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith.


The Best Horse by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk


"Lakeland Vet" and "Jason, nobody's dog" and "A Dog Called Gelert and Other Stories" by Joyce Stranger

I like her other books too but those I grew up with.

The cay by Theodore Taylor (there's a cat, so that counts! Great book!). There's a sequel/prequel but it goes after this book.

The "Animal Inn" series by Virginia Vail.

Gypsy From Nowhere by Sharon Wagner

There's a couple sequels.

Another special childhood fav. read many times:
A Year at Sheepfold Farm by Susan Williams

Besides the gorgeous cover, there are lots of internal black-and-white illustrations. This is the omnibus edition. Apparently the stories were also published separately.

The Dogs of Pangers ; and, Pangers Pup by Lorna Wood


Hi Fella by Era Zistel


To name a few!

Love the covers, bookel! Thanks for sharing.

I was reminded of The song of Pentecost, which is the first of a trilogy and is a Watership Down style story with mice instead of rabbits.

Wow, what a great selection, @bookel! I'm going to see if I can find a few of those. I suspect they are Australian, and not as well known here in the US.

And you've now added a book to my 'read but unowned list', Clarence Goes to Town. Technically it was my sister's book, but I swiped it every chance I got to read it.

Moon-Dark by Patricia Wrightson is Australian, but most mentioned are American or British.

86, 87, 88 & 90. bookel - I am so impressed that you remember so many. And thanks for finding and posting covers for them!

ETA: 88 & 90, too.

Here's another list that I disagree with:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100076679/are-these-the-best-childre...

What do you think of his book choices?

I think The Phantom Tollbooth would be on my "best" list, and Emil and the Detectives too.

Many of them I'd never heard of, but that might be due to his location (UK) and mine (USA).

96 - re book lists: they are usually very subjective. If one person likes them and thinks they're 'the best', it doesn't mean another person will enjoy all of them. Depends on what you like to read. Some of those on that list I have read and enjoyed and some I'm not interested in at all (some I've tried reading but never got past the first page, which happen to have a lot of people liking them, not naming the books).

>85 by @bookel, you tried to touchstone an author name+title in this post, and it goes to a very random title! lol. I had opened 2 of the titles you shared in new tabs but didn't go to them until later, and then got very confused when I saw what book was there, and couldn't figure out what it should have been! Thankfully I remembered the other one had been from this thread and I thought I'd clicked both from here, so I was able to then figure out which it was meant to be :P

Sorry didn't notice the number!

Like I said, post 85 :)

Corrected it with a direct link, thanks for the note!

If you like dog and horse stories, Lynn Hall wrote about both (some as major characters, others are supporting). Lynn Hall, Ride a dark horse is one of her best mysteries. Jean Slaughter Doty is an excellent author of horse stories too, but she also wrote a dog story (Gabriel). Jodie's journey by Colin Thiele has horses; it's about a girl with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (not very many books on the topic, that I could find), and bushfire, set in Australia. At the same time Animal Inn was coming out, Animal Rescue Farm was another (shorter) series, which was enjoyable.

Who Stole Kathy Young? by Margaret Goff Clark is one of my childhood favourites. There's a Chesapeake Bay retriever in this story, but it's the entire story I enjoyed. It fuelled my enjoyment of the author's books and I finally have all of her fiction! Kind of gave up on finding the non-fiction, though I'd like to read the John Muir book. I read a picture book recently by a different author about John Muir; I'd not known before the details of him and it was fascinating. Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpurgo was probably one of the first by him I read, along with The Nine Lives of Montezuma, and he's an excellent author of animal stories too. The beach dogs by Colin Dann, also good, another great animal stories author. Yes, the Animals of Farthing Wood series. I'm not sure if I read that in high school or later... maybe later. There was a good animated TV series based on it, for a while. I also read Colin Dann's A legacy of ghosts in high school, which has a cat on the cover. That's a fantasy I want to reread. I really enjoyed the Starbuck family series and the second book has dolphins. The kingdom by the sea by Robert Westall is also good.



More fav. childhood books, this time picture books:
- Sam and the firefly by P D Eastman
- The Digging-est Dog by Al Perkins
- Fury by Kathleen Irwin
- Snuffle to the rescue by Elisabeth Beresford (my copy actually didn't have a cover; I didn't get a copy with a cover until recently. Great dog and kitten story!)
- The little lamb by Judy Dunn
- A good fish dinner by Barbara K. Walker
- How The Chipmunk Got Its Stripes by Nancy Cleaver
- The Perfect Ride by Lady McCrady (characters are dogs)



Now for favourite animal stories not encountered growing up. There's a pattern here ... which is why you can see how your interests affect what you read.
- Follow my leader by James B Garfield
- A Dog to Trust: The Saga of a Seeing-Eye Dog (Alt. title: A dog against darkness) by Joseph E. Chipperfield
- Guide dog by Dorothy Clewes
- A walk in the dark by Joyce Stranger
- One step at a time by Deborah Kent
- The unfrightened dark by Isabelle Holland
- Mine for keeps by Jean Little

I'm trying NOT to notice particular titles because my TBR pile is outlandish enough.

Yesterday I received two books I'd purchased after receiving recommendations here: Firmin and The Animals of Farthing Wood...sigh...

Hi, as a 'cat nut' I tried to look up "Princess, by Carolyn Lane".

Couldn't find any info. Anyone have anything?

guido47 - Princess, and, Princess and Minerva (the sequel) were published by Scholastic.

Princess written and illustrated by Carolyn Lane (1979).
"Prin-cess! Here, Prin-cess!" Through the rain, Princess the white persian cat heard Mary Ellen calling one last time. Then the wind blew the sound away -- and Princess, huddled under a dripping bush, had no idea where to go. This was an end of summer storm. Soon the family would be closing up the beach house and leaving for good. If Princess couldn't find her way back in time, she'd be abandoned -- left to fend for herself all winter long!

Princess and Minerva by Carolyn Lane (1982).
"She's hurt!" Minerva hears voices speaking softly. Then, a small hand reaches down and pats her gently on the side. Suddenly, Minerva panics! She's in a car -- being carried farther and farther away from home, and from Princess. Minerva tries to leap out the window, but sinks back in terrible pain. She is used to surviving on her own. But now she's badly hurt, and helpless. Will Minerva ever be her old tough, independent self again?

Author page: Carolyn Lane.

I had Princess growing up and didn't discover the sequel until later. The author wrote the books shown on the author page, and also wrote plays, though I'm only interested in the listed books. :)

Thanks, #108 & #109. I will have to look into buying that :-)

OK. Bought :-)

(111) This place is dangerou$...

Tell me abought it @fuzzi, I still have 15 books I am awaiting. That's just this month.

My TBR pile is now This high As he waves his hands really high :-) Well above his head.

Muffy: the Tale of a Muskrat is a sweet story based on the author's experience having a tame -ish muskrat which would come and go at will in their house. I Loved it, and love the luminous illustrations by Kurt Weise. And, a big plus, Muffy does not die at the end. I'm not sure if my link will work but it's of the picture I used in lieu of a cover, as its cover is ultra plain.

http://pics.cdn.librarything.com/picsizes/09/65/0965657f00b571b593038355367434d4...

@bookel, how do you put the cover images here? My only known method did not work, #114 above.

>115 by @SaintSunniva, You type: <img src="URL goes here" />

So that link above would go between the quotes.

Look up basic HTML on Google for inserting images. img src stuff.

from Muffy: The Tale of a Muskrat

#116 @Polymathmonkey, thanks so much for the lesson!

You're welcome :)

Woo! Another one for the...TBR pile...

...aarrggh!!!!

:)

Here's a fun site:

http://www.janebadgerbooks.co.uk/

It's not as dangerous anymore, as she's no longer selling books...

:(

ponymadbooklovers is a similar site.

@fuzzi and @bookel - do you know the books by Priscilla Warner, like Biddy Christmas? I love her books! (the link for ponymadbooklovers made me think maybe, just maybe......)

Actually, I tried just tried ponymadbooklovers.com - and didn't find anything. Can you please put the complete link here? Thanks!

It's not always a USA .com! If I only say ponymadbooklovers you only need to copy/paste that into a search on Google (or wherever).
The site does cover books worldwide. Here are both sites:
http://www.ponymadbooklovers.co.uk/page2.html
http://www.janebadgerbooks.co.uk/ponybooks.html

No I haven't heard of Biddy Christmas by Priscilla M Warner.

I've not heard of Biddy Christmas or Priscilla M Warner, but that's the beauty of LibraryThing: since I joined about three years ago I have read so many new books through recommendations here.

I'll look up that author. Sometimes the covers jog my memory and I realize I've read it. It happened yesterday for me with Down the Mississippi.

Looking at the Ponymad Booklover's blog I've discovered a book I want to read: The Black Loch (touchstone not working) by Patricia Leitch.

Leitch, The black loch

The Black Loch (Republished as: The horse from Black Loch) by Patricia Leitch

Patricia Leitch is an excellent author. I love her Jinny series. Dream of fair horses (USA title: Fields of praise) is supposedly one of her best books.

>129 SaintSunniva:, 130: Horse from Black Loch is one of my all time favourite pony stories! The Scottish setting is really well-drawn and Kay is a great lead character.

The Pros and Cons of LT:

Pro - You wind up with a lot of book recommendations, which you put on your TBR list

Con - You wind up with a lot of book recommendations, which you put on your TBR list...

;)

>132 fuzzi: hahaha, true! But I think it's also the pro/con of being an avid reader, no matter what you will always wind up finding more titles to put on it!

It's as heavy a burden as sitting at the circulation desk all day, handling other peoples ordered materials.

A quick read through, didn't notice my favorites: Blaze and the Forest Fire, Blaze and Thunderbolt, and all the other "Blaze" books by C.W. Anderson. The Adventures of Sammy Jay and other animal tales by Thornton W. Burgess, Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey and the Beatrix Potter stories, especially the tiny books.

Curious George may be a little newer than you are looking for, but it sure delighted my children.

One of my all-time favorites as a child was The Scroobious Pip by Edward Lear

and another was Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale.

A Fly Went By and Frog and Toad made me very happy as as brand new reader.

If anyone is looking for terrific children's book ideas, I have some wonderful ones in my library, both modern and "tattered." I love them.