Saturday Seven: Books told from an Animal’s POV

Hosted by Long and Short Reviews

This past week my entire family has been ill (not me, thankfully, and I’m determined to stay well), and it got me to thinking back to a time when I was very sick as a kid, and read Black Beauty fourteen times in a row. This week, I was torn between “books to read when you’re sick” or “books told from an animal’s POV” and since *I* wasn’t sick, I opted for the second. In no particular order, here are some of my favorite books told from animal’s POV:
1. Watership Down by Richard Adams
An amazing book full of drama, love, faith, murder and an entirely new language (I drive a hrududu, btw). If you haven’t read it, you really should.
2. The Redwall series by Brian Jacques
While this is a fantasy and the animals wear clothing and carry swords, it’s still from their POV. This series was one of the first full length series my kid read as a tween and she loved it. It’s really quite well done and exceptionally interesting.
3. The Warriors series by Erin Hunter
A fascinating look into a group (or two or three) of cats and how they in the wild (and what they think about domesticated cats). Massively complex, this actually fed my kid’s desire to learn more about natural health, as these cats use plants and herbs for healing and life.
4. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Of course! What an amazing book. I was enthralled as a kid, and it holds up as an adult. Who didn’t cry when Beauty saw Ginger, dead and finally out of her misery. So sad but so inspirational and I was SO happy at the end that he was found again by someone who would love him.
5. Duncton Wood by William Horwood
I read this years ago, thinking it would be like Watership Down. It is, and it isn’t. Told from moles’ POV, it’s deeper, a bit more complex and harder to read. I still liked it very much, but it’s not something you’d read for enjoyment and it’s not at all fluffy.
6. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
Mice and rats, mainly. One of my favorite books growing up and it makes me wonder if this is what fed my adoration of rodents. Poorly adapted to film in the 80s, but I see another production company may do a live action version in the future. Hmmm….
7. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Who doesn’t love this book (and movie!). I still cry when Charlotte dies at the end… what a devoted friend and mother she was. And, I wonder if this novel fed my interest and sympathy for spiders. If you know me, you know I’m fascinated by them and don’t ever kill them, even inside my house.
What are some books told from animals’ POV you can recommend?