The best chapter books about animals (for kids ages 6-10) are also some of the cutest stories you’ll ever read! These books often feature pet-loving kids, animal detectives or superheroes, or animals figuring life out — just like kids are. For this list, I’ve rounded up some of the best animal-centered chapter books aimed at kids in K-5 grades. Many of these will work for beginning readers and others for stronger readers. If you’re looking for animal stories for middle schoolers, check out my list of middle grade dog books, middle grade horse books, and middle grade animal books! Ooh, I also have one about birds and bird watching!
if you’re here to choose chapter books for younger children, let’s get started!
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Chapter Books About Animals (for Kids Ages 6-10)
Here are 25 of the best animal chapter books for kids ages 6-10:
house for meow
Published: July 19, 2022
every home needs a cat!
Kira Parker lives above the Purrfect Cup, the cat cafe her family owns and runs. Every day is a new adventure with her cat friends! Except lately, the King County Dog Show seems to be the only thing the regulars can talk about!
kira doesn’t understand why everyone is so excited. after all, her cat friends are much smarter and more talented than those dogs. Then Ella Kira has a great idea: she will train the cats and enter them in the competition. She sure will be the best plan of hers so far!
the rescued princesses #1: secret promise
Published: May 28, 2013
These are no ordinary princesses, these are rescued princesses!
Princess Emily sometimes wishes that being a princess meant more than wearing fancy dresses and bowing endlessly. She longs for a life-changing adventure, and she just might get one!
someone is plotting to harm the deer that live in the beautiful mistberg forest. Along with some new friends, Emily will have to use his intelligence, her insight, and even some new ninja skills to save them!
all legs on deck (haggis and tank untied #1)
Published: January 5, 2016
tank is a clumsy and outgoing Great Dane. Haggis is an elegant and grumpy Scottish dog. In the first book of the series, Haggis and Tank set sail as pirates. At first, Haggis doesn’t see what the tank is doing—they’re in for an adventure with just a little imagination! But soon, Haggis joins in on the fun, and the two friends embark on a pirate adventure. They talk like pirates, clean the deck, and even search for buried treasure. this series is full of clever puns and homophones that make the adventures of haggis and tank even more fun.
humphrey’s really exciting race day (humphrey’s little tales)
Published: August 28, 2014
humphrey is a happy hamster. she lives in room 26 at longfellow school. she has a big comfy cage with a perfect wheel to spin and a room full of friends. But when Humphrey goes over to Mandy’s house one weekend, she learns that her hamster has something that Humphrey has never seen before: a hamster car! Humphrey wants one too, but school isn’t usually the place for toys. then her teacher talks about bringing something special for a project. is humphrey getting a really fun surprise?
taekwondo dog
Published: January 22, 2021
tae kwon dog: The power within tae kwon dog breaks rocks with its bare paws, spins out of sight in the air, empowers the weak and timid to face their fears, and makes bullies tremble and run. some call him a martial arts superhero, others think he possesses some magical power. But this scruffy pup turned canine black belt knows that his most amazing secret power isn’t magic at all. and anyone can have it if he dares to believe. do you dare?
jelly bean (shelter pet squad #1)
Published: August 26, 2014
In this charming series of illustrated chapter books by Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord, the kids of the shelter pet squad find the perfect homes for animals in need! no pets allowed. What you can do is volunteer at a local pet shelter. There, although she is the youngest, Suzannah quickly finds herself making friends with the children and bonding with the animals. she makes toys and treats for the animals. she feeds the cats and plays with the puppies! Later, a girl her age brings a guinea pig named Jelly Bean to the shelter. Suzannah promises that she will find the little creature the perfect home. but what if no one wants an abandoned guinea pig? cynthia lord, honorary author of newbery, has created a series of funny and poignant chapter books.
lulu and the hamster at night
Published: March 1, 2016
lulu adopts a hamster, but she can’t tell nan because nan doesn’t care about most animals, especially hamsters. it’s her birthday this weekend and lulu and mellie are staying the night. Lulu doesn’t want to leave her new hamster behind, but can she and Mellie keep it a secret from Nan over the weekend?
palace puppies #1: sunny and the royal party
Published: July 2, 2013
sunny and rex are real puppies! Sunny is a lady-like goldendoodle, and Rex is a mischievous beagle. Together, they love living in the palace with their owners and best friends, Princess Annie and Prince James. But when Jackson, a royal pain who happens to be the guest of honor, shows up and threatens to crash the birthday party Annie and James have been planning for him, Sunny and Rex embark on an adventure to save the day. Can they help their best friends, cheer up the grumpy guest, and save the party before it all comes crashing down? Join the Palace Pups on their first fun-filled adventure!
captain pug
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Published: March 14, 2017
On a very ordinary day, the pug’s nose knows that breakfast is on the way. And with breakfast comes the crumbs, but not just the old crumbs, the jam tart crumbs. Jam tarts are Pug’s favorite food, and she loves nothing more than sharing them with his best friend, Lady Miranda. But just before Pug can finish the last jam cake, Lady Miranda picks him up and takes him on a maritime adventure. Unfortunately for the pug, it turns out that water may be his biggest fear!
To avoid water, pug takes a break to eat at the right time. But when his brief reprieve takes an unexpected turn, Pug will have to find his true captain and make his way back home.
welcome to bed and biscuit (bed and biscuit)
Published: September 12, 2006
Grandpa Bender wouldn’t be able to run the Bed and Biscuits Guest House without the help of Ernest the pig, Gabby the mynah bird, and Milly the cat. in fact, the three animals have always considered themselves Grandpa’s family, and assumed that he felt the same way. But when Grandpa comes home with a mysterious bundle and stops paying attention to his loyal companions, they begin to question his affections. engaging illustrations by noah z. Jones, capturing every endearing trait of this eccentric family, round out Joan Carris’s humorous and heartwarming book for middle-grade readers.
pet hotel #1: calling all pets!
Published: June 25, 2013
Twins Meg and Charlie are moving into their great-great-aunt’s hotel, and they’re in for some surprises! the dilapidated hotel is filled with cool old-fashioned rooms, a rooftop garden, and even an elevator. there is also a big problem: you have no guests.
But when Meg and Charlie volunteer to babysit a neighbor’s golden retriever puppy, the furry little ball of fur gives them a great idea. They are going to transform your new home into an amazing hotel. . . for pets!
the chicken squad: the first misadventure (1)
Published: April 8, 2014
meet the chicken squad: dirt, sugar, poppy and love. These chicks aren’t your typical barnyard puffs of fluff, and they’re not about to spend their days pecking at chicken feed and chasing bugs. no sir, they are too busy solving mysteries and fighting crime.
so when the squirrel runs into the coop, the chicks know they’re about to have a case. but with his poor knowledge of shapes (“big” is not a shape, squirrel!) and total fear of whatever is out there, the terrified squirrel is no help. Good thing these girls are professionals.
but even professionals worry. especially once they see that big, shiny, green, round thing in the garden. what if it’s a ufo full of aliens who want chickens as pets? It’s up to Chicken Squad to solve a case that could be out of this world.
bad kitty takes a bath
Published: December 29, 2020
Bad Kitty is back (and badder than ever!) when she’s forced to take a bath in this hysterical, full-color graphic novel for young readers.
The following are some items you will need for your kitty’s bath: a bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, armor, a letter to loved ones, clean underwear (because stressful situations can cause “accidents”) , an ambulance in your driveway with the engine running, and yes, you’ll need kitty too… but good luck with that!
Pirate Pups #3: Kidnapped!
Published: January 26, 2016
Hello, friends! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of pups. fighting like cats and dogs? exactly! the puppy pirates played a prank on the kitten pirates, and meow! the kittens sure are angry. Can the puppies escape the clutches of the kittens? It’s dog against cat, and may the best pirates win.
amy and the lost puppy (1) (the bug club)
Published: January 1, 2013
It’s spring break in santa vista, and everyone has big plans…everyone except amy, that is! As her best friends head out of town for exciting adventures, Amy resigns herself to helping out at her mom’s vet clinic. She at least she will be surrounded by cute animals! But when cold, slippery Santa Vista millionairess Marge Sullivan brings her puppy Rufus in for a checkup, Amy finds herself in for an unexpected mystery. After her friends return home, the girls get to the bottom of what happened to Rufus and figure out a way to help other lost and lonely animals in their town.
the infamous ratsos
Published: August 2, 2016
louie and ralphie ratso’s father, big lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are hard and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show how tough they are, the Ratso brothers accidentally end up doing good deeds. What will big lou do when he finds out they’ve been acting like softies all over the big city? Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers, this clever and surprisingly affectionate chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really hard.
mercy watson to the rescue
Published: August 23, 2005
to mr. and mrs watson, mercy isn’t just a pig, she’s a swine wonder. And for the portly, good-natured mercy, Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery, toasty feeling you get when you snuggle in bed with them. however, this is not so good for the watson’s bed. boom! fissure! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink into the ground, Mercy slips away in an instant, “to alert the fire department,” its owners claim. But is it possible that mercy has another emergency in mind, like a sudden craving for her neighbors’ sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson, a gripping new character for early chapter book readers in a series that is destined to become a classic.
a new friend (1) (the adventures of sophie mouse)
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Published: January 20, 2015
In the first book of the Sophie Mouse Adventures, spring has come to Silverlake Forest! animals are leaving their homes, buds are blooming on the trees, and the air smells of honeysuckle and tree bark. Sophie Mouse can’t wait to go back to school after the long winter break.
Even better, there’s a new student in the class. Sophie loves meeting new animals! But the class gasps when Owen walks in: it’s a snake! no one is brave enough to sit near him, or play with owen at recess, or even talk to him. Can Sophie help her friends understand that Owen isn’t scary after all?
smarter than the squirrels (girl get down and sit down)
Published: September 1, 2004
the hilarious adventures of two confused canines
down girl and sit down are two dogs that are “smarter than squirrels”. They know how to protect their masters from everything that can go wrong in the neighborhood: they bark at the paperboys, keep an eye on the garbage cans and keep the mischievous squirrels at bay. But when Kitty Kitty moves in next door, her daily routines are turned upside down. Full of humor and adventure, this illustrated chapter book looks at backyard life from the well-intentioned but misguided point of view of man’s best friend.
the adventures of mustache henry (1)
Published: January 3, 2017
Henry Whiskers must face his fears and rescue his little sister from the terrifying Rat Alley in this fun and fast-paced first chapter book set in Queen Mary’s historic dollhouse at Windsor Castle.
Twenty-five generations of mustaches have lived in Windsor Castle’s most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. For young book lover Henry Whiskers and his family, this is the perfect place to call home.
But when the dollhouse undergoes unexpected repairs and Henry’s younger sister Isabel goes missing, he risks everything in a race against time to save her. His rescue mission will take him to the dark and terrifying world of Rat Alley, and Henry will have to dig deep and find the courage he never knew he had to bring his sister back home.
little thing (henry huggins, 6)
Published: November 7, 2017
Good old ribsy’s inquisitive mind has always gotten him into trouble, but this time he may have gone too far. After a comical turn of events, Ribsy finds himself in the wrong truck with the wrong kids. Ribsy will do anything to find Henry, but there’s a lot of excitement along the way, and scoring a touchdown for a local high school team is only part of the fun!
button the kitty (my furry foster family)
Published: August 1, 2019
all the super friendly and playful razor littermates are being adopted, one after another. but not knife. How do you find the world’s shyest kitten his forever home? That’s the big question eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal husbandry family must answer in this sweet, tabby-filled illustrated chapter book narrated by Kaita herself.
socks
Published: April 8, 2008
socks is a happy cat. he lives the good life with his loving owners, mr. and Mrs. Mason ever since the day he was saved from a past life in a mailbox, socks have been the center of his world. And he always has everything he needs: tasty kitty treats and all the lap space he could want.
But when a new baby arrives, bricklayers suddenly have less and less time for socks. Little Charles William is the one getting all the attention. he socks feels left out and to prove it, he starts getting into all sorts of trouble! what does it take for socks to realize how much the masons care about him?
jasmine green rescue: a sucker called a truffle
Published: March 17, 2020
jasmine green loves animals. his mother is a veterinarian. his father is a farmer. and his brother and sister are. . . well, they’re mostly annoying. but being in the green family means seeing and caring for animals all the time. while helping her mother on a house call, jasmine visits a new litter of piglets and discovers a forgotten dwarf hiding under her brothers and sisters. poor little pig He is so small that he can’t even drink! his owner refuses to rescue him. So it’s up to Jasmine to save the pig. . . secretly. What will happen if someone finds out? Author Helen Peters and illustrator Ellie Snowdon present the irresistible pair of intelligent, loving Jasmine and the lovable Truffle, while capturing the beauty and bustle of a family farm. A sort of James Herriot for a new generation, this first book in the Jasmine Green series is for anyone who loves helping animals.
the adventures of zelda: a pug tale (zelda pug, #1)
Published: December 19, 2013
After I ran away with the vacuum arm, my family realized I was no ordinary pug.
I have the wrinkles, battered face, and curly tail of a pug, but I have an appetite for adventure. I’m always looking for a new mystery to solve, a cat to chase, or a pillow to steal.
eva’s treetop festival: a book of branches (owl diaries #1)
Published: January 6, 2015
This adorable series of first chapter books is perfect for young girls who love friendship stories featuring animals! With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will build reading confidence and stamina. branch books help readers grow! Eva Wingdale gets a kick out of it when she offers to host a spring festival at school. Even with the help of Ella’s best friend Lucy, there’s no way she’s going to finish everything on time. Will Eva Ella have to ask Sue (a.k.a. Meanie McMeanerson) for help? Or will the festival have to be cancelled? This book is written like Eva’s diary, with adorable full-color illustrations like an owl by Rebecca Elliott!
There they are: 25 of the best animal chapter books for elementary school children! which of these have you read and loved? what did i miss?
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