The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Ivan seems to only remember his life being in a circus style mall. But when the owner buys a baby elephant, he starts to remember his youth of freedom before he became an attraction for humans. He has his animal friends, Bob a homeless dog that likes it that way and Stella the old elephant who is there with him. But it is a promise he makes to Stella that starts him on a journey that will forever change his life and those around him. Can he really trust some humans to help? Julia, the janitor's little girl seems to want to help. Can other humans be trusted? What is really a happy ending if you are just a captive animal far from your natural home? Why do books use something sad as the needed push so the main character will work for that happy ending? Maybe that is the question will let you in on the secret of how to find the happy ending in your life.

The Cheshire Chees Cat :ADickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright

From the writer that brought us The Library Dragon, a twisted tale of a friendship between a cat, a mouse, and a missing little girl. Shilley is an alley cat with a problem and needs to find a home. He thinks the answer to his prayers will be becoming the house cat for "Ye Old Cheshire Cheese" pub. He does this by making a deal with the mice that helps both, but Charles Dickens himself can see something is up with that cat and those mice. The pub has the reputation of having the best cheese in the whole of England. When Shilley finds a missing tower raven, the plot thickens. But when the cook's helper brings in another cat to get rid of the mice, Shilley may lose it all -- his home, his best friend, the raven, and his secret. If you like a fast paced, funny story with lots of twists and turns, enjoy. You will not believe the ending when Pip the mouse helps out one of the greatest writers ever to write one of his most famous lines.

Aviary Wonders Inc. by Kate Samworth

This is for all of you who miss picture books. Set in the future, a future that we hope doesn't happen when birds have all but disappeared. It isn't just a catalog, it is also an instructional manual that started renewing the world's bird supplies since 2031. Founded by Alfred Wallis, who must have wanted this ancestors to roll in their graves - you will have to read it to see why. You can page through and choose the parts to make real birds or make up your own.  The only rule is that these birds cannot be caged. Would you be able to teach your bird to fly or sing? Just be careful, or you may end up with a problem that only Alfred can solve.

Dewey, the Library Cat by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

Librarians find weird things in book drop boxes, but on January 18, 1988 when the temp hit -15 degrees, the librarian found a gift that changed a town and may be even the world. That dirty, cold 8 week old kitten became Dewey Readmore Books, the Spencer Library cat. Dewey became world famous without even leaving the library. TV crews from around the world traveled to film him. A little girl's special wish was not to go to Disney World, but to meet and give Dewey a mouse. Why in the world does anyone care about Dewey? Maybe it has to do with rubber bands, catnip, a Christmas tree and one smart place to hide? Or could it be how he "ran the library" or his "daily routine?" To find out, you need to read the book. If you don't believe me, just ask your younger brothers or sisters what they think of Dewey. Yes, he even managed to reach them. Will he reach out and make you a Dewey lover or are you going to be like that non-library user who threatened to bring a cow in if that stupid cat stays?

The Cats of Roxville Station by Jean Craighead George

The action at the start of this book will upset any cat lover, but sets the story of how outside cats survive and learn which humans they can trust. Rachet has learned not to trust humans and now she has to learn the ways of feral cats to survive. A small colony of cats live in the neighborhood near a train station. While some humans are helpful, like the lady who puts out cat food, other do anything they can to "get rid of the cats". Mike, who lives with a foster mother that hates cats, wants to befriend Rachet but how can a cat learn to trust one of the creatures that harmed her and tried to kill her. While this is a fiction story, it has more facts than some non fiction. I learned a few thing about cats and I have lived too many for years. If you love the Warriors series, instead of rereading while you wait for the next book, try this. All my students who love the Warriors series and read this loved it.

Into the Wild by Erin Hunter (Warriors series)

This is the book that has started 3 different series about 4 clans of wild cats trying to survive in an unforgiving world and the fights with each other. Rusty is just a kittypet (house cat) who takes off to wild, but he might be the answer that the leader of ThunderClan's saw as she dreamt. Does he have what it takes to help the clan when other clan breaks tradition and tries to take all the clans land for itself? Can he be a warrior or is he just a soft pet of Two legs? You need to read the books in order so you won't get lost, but each series has its own story line. Reading this one first, you will learn how one cat can make a difference to a whole world of cats. Not only for cat lovers, if you enjoy battles between warriors, you will love the action in the fights between the clans. Warriors are not made, they are born, but training will keep warriors from dying before their time. But remember, the worst enemies can be the closest friends if they choose to be.

The Story of a Seagull and the Cat who Taught Her to Fly, by Luis Sepulveda

A dying mother's last act was asking a cat to watch over her egg, not to eat the baby and finally to teach it to fly. Most cats would say yes and then when the mother was gone, eat the bird, but Zobra is a honorable cat. How does a cat teach a bird to fly? This case involves a set of encyclopedias among other things including keeping his friends from eating the bird while all try to make a dying mother's wish come true. Can two different beings really learn to love each other? If they can, maybe we all can too.