Great Illustrated Animal Stories in Western Literature

The one book with a multi-layered approach is A. A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" stories. In addition to the honey loving Winnie the bear, the other characters are the bossy Rabbit, the anxious Piglet, the wise Owl, the depressive Eeyore, the mother Kanga & her son Roo, (making the kangaroo pair) & the ever bouncing Tigger. Looking after this menagerie is the boy Christopher Robin. "Decorations" by E. H. Shepard are integral to the books.

The first books to be loved by very young children were the ones by Beatrix Potter, who insisted that the books be small to suit children's hands. Her artwork was in a class of her own. Not only Peter Rabbit but other animals & birds appear in her stories.

The Little Grey Rabbit stories written by Alison Uttley & illustrated by Margaret Tempest brought to life the unselfish Little Grey Rabbit, the boastful Hare, the vain Squirrel, the Hedgehog family, postman Robin, Moldy Warp the mole, & again the wise Owl (like in Winnie).

Probably the most attractive books with incredibly detailed illustrations are the Brambley Hedge books featuring adorable mice, written & illustrated by Jill Barklem.

Even though "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame was not conceived initially as an illustrated book, it must be mentioned that the edition with the impressionist illustrations by Inga Moore, is really out of this world.