Flowchart: Animal Books for 2nd-4th Graders

Phew, this was totally supposed to go up on Friday and I just kept adding more and more books! There's a lot of good stuff out there, which ended up surprising me a little bit because this is the age group that I often have the hardest time finding books to recommend. I've always felt it got a little lost in the shuffle between easy readers/early chapter books and middle grade fiction.

But! Without further ado, a flowchart of animal-themed books for kids aged 8 - 11 years.

These books are all chapter books, all have some illustrations/photos in them, and are great stories. Some I'd still double check what would be good for the right age (one might lend itself better to the 11-year-old than the 8-year-old). Some are classic, some are brand new. There's something for everyone, for sure.

Also, I have a link to download the printable poster: a pdf on Google Drive. It's sized 11" x 42" so you could, technically, print it on five landscape-oriented letter-sized pages. In any case, it's nice to have as a reference when recommending books!

Here's a full list of what's on the flowchart:

Creature Fact Checks
-In Particular:

• A Boy and A Jaguar Written by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia Chien (HMH Books, 2014)
• The Disgusting Critters Series: The Fly Written and illustrated by Elise Gravel (Tundra, 2014)
• Magic Tree House Fact Checker: Polar Bears and the Arctic Written by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce, illustrated by Sal Murdocca (Random House, 2007)

-Overview:

• Pink is for Blobfish: Discovering the World's Perfectly Pink Animals Written by Jess Keating, illustrated by David Degrand (Knopf, 2016)
• Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins (HMH Books, 2014)
• 125 True Stories of Amazing Animals: Inspiring Tales of Animal Friendship & Four-Legged Heroes, Plus Crazy Animal Antics by National Geographic Kids (National Geographic, 2012)
• Animal Planet Animal Atlas by Animal Planet (Animal Planet, 2016)
• How To Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page (HMH Books, 2015)

In Their Own Words

-Heroic Acts:

• The Tale of Despereaux Written by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering (Candlewick, 2003)
• Sidekicks Written and illustrated by Dan Santat (Arthur A. Levine, 2011—graphic novel)
• El Deafo Written and illustrated by Cece Bell (Harry N. Abrams, 2014—graphic novel)
• The Chicken Squad Written by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell (Atheneum, 2014)

-Mystery Solved:

• Hank the Cowdog Written by John R. Erickson, illustrated by Gerald L. Holmes (Maverick, 1983)
• Bunnicula: A Rabbit-tale of Mystery Written by Deborah & James Howe, illustrated by Alan Daniel (Atheneum, 1979) 
• Big Bad Detective Agency Written and illustrated by Bruce Hail (Scholastic, 2015)

-Fantastical Creatures: 

• Guardians of Childhood: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King Written and illustrated by William Joyce & Laura Geringer (Atheneum, 2011)
• The Kingdom of Fantasy by Geranimo Stilton (Scholastic, 2009)
• Dragonbreath Written and illustrated by Ursula Vernon (Puffin, 2009)
• The Yeti Files Written and illustrated by Kevin Sherry (Scholastic, 2014)

-Historical Times:

• Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans Written and illustrated by Gary Northfield (Candlewick, 2016)
• Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail Written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Kelley McMorris (Scholastic, 2015)
• Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the Woof Society Written by Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey & Laurie Myers, illustrated by Erik Brooks (Henry Holt, 2007)

-Fun & Friendship:

• Wild Robot Written and illustrated by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Books, 2016)
• Mouse Scouts Written and illustrated by Sarah Dillard (Yearling, 2016)
• The Story of Diva & Flea Written by Mo Willems, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi (Disney-Hyperion, 2015)
• Charlotte's Web Written by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams (HarperCollins, 1952)
• Babymouse: Queen of the World! Written and illustrated by Jennifer & Matthew Holm (Random House, 2005, graphic novel)
• My Pet Human Written and illustrated by Yasmine Surovec (Roaring Brook, 2015)
• Bird & Squirrel on the Run! Written and illustrated by James Burks (Graphix, 2012, graphic novel)
• Daisy Dawson Is On Her Way Written by Steve Voake, illustrated by Jessica Meserve (Candlewick, 2007)

Humans & Their Pets

-True Life: 

• Lulu and the Hamster in the Night Written by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont (Albert Whitman & Co, 2015)
• Shelter Pet Squad: Jelly Bean Written by Cynthia Lord, illustrated by Erin McGuire (Scholastic, 2014)
• Cody Harmon, King of Pets Written by Claudia Mills, illustrated by Rob Shepperson (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016)
• Amelia Bedelia Unleashed Written by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril (Greenwillow, 2013)
• Marty Mcguire Written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Brian Floca (Scholastic, 2011)

-Laugh Worthy:

• Bad Kitty Gets a Bath Written and illustrated by Nick Bruel (Square Fish, 2008)
• Shivers! The Pirate Who's Afraid of Everything Written by Annabeth Bondor-Stone & Connor White, illustrated by Anthony Holden (HarperCollins, 2015)
• My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish Written by Mo O'Hara, illustrated by Marek Jagucki
• The Dragonsitter Written by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Garry Parsons (Little, Brown Books, 2016)

-Myths & Legends:

• Heroes in Training: Poseidon and the Sea of Fury Written by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Craig Phillips (Aladdin, 2012)
• Dragon Masters: Rise of the Earth Dragon Written by Tracey West, illustrated by Graham Howells (Scholastic, 2014)
• Magical Animal Adoption Agency: Clover's Luck Written by Kallie George, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger (Disney-Hyperion, 2015)
• The Imaginary Veterinary: The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors, illustrated by Dan Santat (Little, Brown Books, 2014