The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette WinterĪani and the Tree Huggers by Jeannine Atkins, illustrated by Venantius J. The Legend of the Lady Slipper by Lise Lunge-Larsen & Margi Preus, illustrated by Andrea Arroyo Brian Karasįinding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illustrated by Abigail Halpin Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by G. Tiger of the Snows: Tenzing Norgay: The Boy Whose Dream Was Everest by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Ed Young Jasper’s Story: Saving Moon Bears by Jill Robinson & Marc Bekoff, illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart & Allen Young, illustrated by Nicole WongĪ Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia Chien The Chiru of High Tibet: A True Story by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Linda WingerterĬan We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White (nonfiction)Īmigo by Byrd Baylor, illustrated by Garth Williams Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales retold by Dawn Casey, illustrated by Anne Wilson (fiction)Ĭloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet & Elspeth Graham, illustrated by Juan Wijngaard (fiction) Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop

Feel free to suggest books in the comments- I am especially interested in reading, supporting, and promoting authors and illustrators of color! Happy reading, fellow primates and bookworms!

The books are in no particular order, and the list is definitely biased toward books about primates…sorry, not sorry! I will add to the list as I continue to read. Here is a list of children’s books about human relationships with animals and/or nature that I have read and enjoyed. In fact, I believe it is important to address these issues early and often to raise compassionate citizens of our planet… How do we think about nature? What can animals teach us? How can we interact with them in a way that is fulfilling for everyone? What are we doing to threaten animal lives and habitats, and what can we do to change that? These topics are not too advanced for children. I enjoy the books myself, but I also love sharing my favorites and using the stories as opportunities to discuss what I am most passionate about: the human-animal connection. I buy and borrow and read children’s books even though I don’t have kids (yet) and even when I’m not teaching other people’s kids.

Tua and the Elephant by R.P. Harris