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 for chapter book picks for younger kids, let’s get started!
Chapter Books About Animals (for Kids Ages 6-10)
Here are 25 of the best chapter books about animals for kids ages 6-10:
Home for Meow
Published: July 19, 2022
Every home needs a cat!
Kira Parker lives above The Purrfect Cup, the cat café that 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 get why everyone is so excited. After all, her cat friends are much smarter and more talented than those dogs. Then Kira has a GREAT IDEA — she’s going to train the cats, and enter them in the competition. It’s sure to be her best plan yet!
The Rescue Princesses #1: Secret Promise
Published: May 28, 2013
These are no ordinary princesses–they’re Rescue Princesses!
Princess Emily sometimes wishes that being a princess meant more than wearing fancy dresses and performing endless curtsies. She longs for a life-changing adventure-and she may just get one!
Someone is plotting to hurt the deer who live in beautiful Mistberg Forest. Together with some new friends, Emily will have to use her smarts, her savvy, and even some newfound ninja skills to save them.
All Paws on Deck (Haggis and Tank Unleashed #1)
Published: January 5, 2016
Tank is a clumsy, outgoing Great Dane. Haggis is a dapper and grumpy Scottie dog. In the first book in the series, Haggis and Tank set sail as pirates. At first, Haggis doesn’t see what Tank does–that an adventure awaits them with just a little imagination! But soon, Haggis joins in the fun and the two friends go on a pirate adventure. They talk like pirates, swab the deck, and even search for buried treasure. This series is full of clever wordplay and homophones that make Haggis and Tank’s adventures even more fun!
Humphrey’s Really Wheely Racing Day (Humphrey’s Tiny Tales)
Published: August 28, 2014
Humphrey is one happy hamster. He lives in Room 26 at Longfellow School. He has a big comfy cage with a wheel perfect for spinning and a room full of friends. But when Humphrey goes to Mandy’s house one weekend, he learns that her hamster has something Humphrey has never seen before—a hamster car!
Humphrey wants one, too, but school is not usually the place for toys. Then his teacher talks about bringing in something special for a project. Is Humphrey getting a really wheely surprise?
Tae Kwon Dog
Published: January 22, 2021
TAE KWON DOG – The Power Within Tae Kwon Dog breaks boulders with his bare paws, spins out of sight in thin air, empowers the weak and timid to face their fears, and makes bullies shake and run. Some call him a martial arts superhero, others think he possesses some magical power. But this once scruffy pup turned canine black belt knows his most awesome secret power isn’t magical at all. And anybody can have it if they dare to believe. Do you dare?
Jelly Bean (Shelter Pet Squad #1)
Published: August 26, 2014
In this charming illustrated chapter book series by Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord, the Shelter Pet Squad kids find the perfect homes for animals in need!Suzannah’s always wanted a pet of her own, but she lives in an apartment where there are absolutely no pets allowed. What she CAN do is volunteer at a local pet shelter. There, although she’s the youngest, Suzannah quickly finds herself making friends with the kids and bonding with the animals. She makes toys and treats for the animals. She feeds the cats and plays with the puppies! Then a girl just her age brings a guinea pig named Jelly Bean to the shelter. Suzannah promises that she’ll find the little creature the perfect home. But what if no one wants an abandoned guinea pig? Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord has created a fun and heartwarming chapter books series.
Lulu and the Hamster in the Night
Published: March 1, 2016
Lulu adopts a hamster, but she can’t tell Nan about it because Nan doesn’t care for most animals—especially not 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 royal 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 just happens to be the guest of honor, shows up and threatens to ruin the birthday party that 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 grouchy guest, and rescue the party before everything comes crumbling down? Join the palace puppies in their first fun-filled adventure!
Captain Pug
Published: March 14, 2017
On one very ordinary day Pug’s nose knows that breakfast is on its way. And with breakfast, come crumbs – but not just any old crumbs, jam tart crumbs. Jam tarts are Pug’s favorite food, and he loves nothing more than to share them with his best friend, Lady Miranda. But just before Pug can finish the last jam tart, Lady Miranda picks him up and whisks him away for a sea-faring adventure. Unfortunately for Pug, it turns out that water may be his biggest fear!
To avoid the water, Pug takes a well-timed snack break. But when his brief respite takes an unexpected turn, Pug will have to find his true Captain self and steer a path back home.
Welcome to the Bed and Biscuit (Bed & Biscuit)
Published: September 12, 2006
Grampa Bender wouldn’t be able to run the Bed and Biscuit animal boardinghouse without the help of Ernest the pig, Gabby the mynah bird, and Milly the cat. In fact, the three animals have always thought of themselves as Grampa’s family — and they assumed he felt the same way. But when Grampa comes home with a mysterious bundle and stops paying attention to his loyal companions, they start to question his affections. Engaging illustrations by Noah Z. Jones, capturing every endearing trait of this oddball family, complement Joan Carris’s humorous, 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 run-down hotel is full of cool old rooms, a rooftop garden, even an elevator. There’s also one big problem — it doesn’t have any guests.
But when Meg and Charlie volunteer to look after a neighbor’s golden retriever puppy, the fuzzy little furball gives them a great idea. They’re going to transform their 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 Sweetie. These chicks are not your typical barnyard puffs of fluff, and they arenot about to spend their days pecking chicken feed and chasing bugs. No sir, they’re too busy solving mysteries and fighting crime.
So when Squirrel comes barreling into the chicken coop, the chicks know they’re about to get a case. But with his poor knowledge of shapes (“Big” is not a shape, Squirrel!) and utter fear of whatever it is that’s out there, the panicky Squirrel is NO HELP. Good thing these chicks are professionals.
But even professionals get worried. Especially once they see that round, shiny, green, BIG thing in the yard. What if it’s a UFO full of aliens who want chickens as pets? It’s up to the Chicken Squad to crack a case that just might be out of this world.
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath
Published: December 29, 2020
Bad Kitty is back (and badder than ever!) when she is forced to take a bath in this hysterical full-color graphic novel for young readers!
The following are some items you will need for Kitty’s bath: one bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, a suit of armor, a letter to your loved ones, clean underwear (because stressful situations can cause “accidents”), an ambulance in your driveway with the engine running, and, oh, yeah, you’ll also need Kitty…but good luck with that!
Puppy Pirates #3: Catnapped!
Published: January 26, 2016
Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies.
Fighting like cats and dogs? Exactly! The puppy pirates played a prank on the kitten pirates, and meow! The kittens sure are mad. Can the pups escape the kittens’ claws? It’s dog vs. cat, and may the best pirates win.
Amy and the Missing Puppy (1) (The Critter Club)
Published: January 1, 2013
It’s Spring Break in Santa Vista, and everyone has big plans…everyone except for Amy, that is! As her best friends head out of town on exciting adventures, Amy resigns herself to helping out at her mom’s vet clinic. At least she’ll be around cute animals! But when Santa Vista’s cold and elusive millionaire, Marge Sullivan, brings her puppy Rufus for a check-up, Amy encounters an unexpected mystery. After her friends return home, the girls get to the bottom of what happened to Rufus—and discover a way to help other lost and lonely animals in their town.
The Infamous Ratsos
Published: August 2, 2016
Louie and Ralphie Ratso’s dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What’ll 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 warmhearted chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really tough.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Published: August 23, 2005
To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig – she’s a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons’ bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash – “to alert the fire department,” her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind – like a sudden craving for their neighbors’ sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson – an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that’s destined to be a classic.
A New Friend (1) (The Adventures of Sophie Mouse)
Published: January 20, 2015
In the first book of The Adventures of Sophie Mouse, springtime has arrived at Silverlake Forest! The animals are coming out of their homes, buds are blooming on the trees, and the air smells of honeysuckles 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 class—Sophie loves meeting new animals! But the class gasps when Owen enters: he’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’s not scary after all?
Smarter Than Squirrels (Down Girl and Sit)
Published: September 1, 2004
THE HILARIOUS ADVENTURES OF TWO CONFUSED CANINES
Down Girl and Sit are two dogs who are “smarter than squirrels.” They know how to protect their masters from all the things that can go wrong in the neighborhood: they bark at paperboys and guard the garbage cans, and keep mischievous squirrels at bay. But when Here Kitty Kitty moves in next door, their daily routines are turned topsy-turvy. Filled with humor and adventure, this illustrated chapter book takes a look at life in the backyard from the well-intentioned but misguided viewpoint of man’s best friend.
The Adventures of Henry Whiskers (1)
Published: January 3, 2017
Henry Whiskers must face his fears and rescue his little sister from the scary Rat Alley in this fun, fast-paced debut chapter book set in Queen Mary’s historical dollhouse at Windsor Castle.
Twenty-five generations of Whiskers have lived in Windsor Castle’s most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. For young, book-loving Henry Whiskers and his family, this is the perfect place to call home.
But when the dollhouse undergoes unexpected repairs and Henry’s youngest sister, Isabel, goes missing, he risks everything in a whisker-whipping race against time to save her. His rescue mission will take him to the murky and scary world of Rat Alley, and Henry will have to dig deep and find the courage he never knew he had in order to bring his sister back home.
Ribsy (Henry Huggins, 6)
Published: November 7, 2017
Good ol’ Ribsy’s ever-curious mind has always gotten him into scrapes, but this time he may have gone too far. After a comical turn of events, Ribsy finds himself in the wrong station wagon with the wrong children. Ribsy will do anything to find Henry, but there’s plenty of excitement to be had along the way—and scoring a touchdown for a local high school team is only part of the fun!
Buttons the Kitten (My Furry Foster Family)
Published: August 1, 2019
All of Razor’s playful, super-friendly littermates are being adopted, one right after the other. But not Razor. How do you find THE shyest kitten in the world his forever home? That’s the big question eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal-fostering family need to answer in this illustrated, sweet-natured, tabby-filled chapter book narrated by Kaita herself.
Socks
Published: April 8, 2008
Socks is one happy cat. He lives the good life with his affectionate owners, Mr. and Mrs. Bricker. Ever since the day they saved him from a life spent in a mailbox drop slot, Socks has been the center of their world. And he always has everything he needs—tasty kitty treats and all the lap room he could want!
But when a new baby arrives, suddenly the Brickers have less and less time for Socks. Little Charles William is the one getting all the attention. Socks feels left out—and to show it, he starts getting into all sorts of trouble! What will it take to make Socks realize just how much the Brickers care about him?
Jasmine Green Rescues: A Piglet Called Truffle
Published: March 17, 2020
Jasmine Green loves animals. Her mother is a veterinarian. Her father is a farmer. And her brother and sister are . . . well, they’re mostly annoying. But being in the Green family means seeing and taking care of animals all the time. While helping her mom on a house call, Jasmine visits a new litter of piglets and discovers a forgotten runt hidden underneath its brothers and sisters. Poor little piglet. It is so tiny that it can’t even drink! Its owner refuses to rescue it. So it is up to Jasmine to save the pig . . . secretly. What will happen if anyone finds out? Author Helen Peters and illustrator Ellie Snowdon introduce the irresistible pair of clever, caring Jasmine and lovable Truffle, while capturing the beauty and bustle of a family farm. A kind 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 off with Vacuum’s arm, my family realized I wasn’t an ordinary pug.
I have the wrinkles, smashed face, and curly tail of a pug, but I have an appetite for adventure. I am always searching for a new mystery to solve, cat to chase, or pillow to steal.
Eva’s Treetop Festival: A Branches Book (Owl Diaries #1)
Published: January 6, 2015
This adorable early chapter book series is perfect for young girls who love friendship stories starring animal characters!This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Eva Wingdale gets in over her head when she offers to organize a spring festival at school. Even with her best friend Lucy’s help, there is NO way she will get everything done in time. Will Eva have to ask Sue (a.k.a. Meanie McMeanerson) for help? Or will the festival have to be cancelled? This book is written as Eva’s diary — with Rebecca Elliott’s owl-dorable full-color illustrations throughout!
There they are: 25 of the best chapter books about animals for elementary school kids! Which one of these have you read and loved? What did I miss?
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