Books for you. Books for your kids.

Our Book Club has great recommendations.

This resource can help you in two ways. First, find the books to help you learn more about small pet care. And, discover what books your students may find interesting, now that you have a small pet in the classroom. Each title has a link to where you can purchase it and a brief description of the book.

Small Animal Care Books

Hamsters (practical pet care) by TFH Publications
A fun, easy-to-reference guide that includes straightforward advice, colorful design, tip boxes, charts, and care instructions.

Facil & Ripido: El Cuidado del Hamster by TFH Publications
Now in Spanish; a concise, quick-reference of important pet care concerns: health, housing, grooming, feeding.

The Hamster Handbook by Patricia Bartlett
Perhaps the only book you'll need to successfully care for a hamster and become an instant expert.

Training Your Pet Hamster by Gerry Bucsis
A solid comprehensive guide for the new hamster owner.

Gerbils (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) by Sue Fox & TFH Publications
A family-friendly, comprehensive guide to superior gerbil care, from feeding to housing to grooming to training.

Gerbils: The Complete Guide to Gerbil Care (Complete Care Made Easy) by Donna Anastasi
Accurate, reliable information on gerbil care and health, plus gerbil art projects!

Quick & Easy Gerbil Care by Sue Fox
The title says it all; this book covers what you need to know.

Ferrets for Dummies by Kim Schilling
Everything you need to know about ferret care is here; it's clear and easy to read.

The Ferret: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet by Mary R. Shefferman
A realistic, informative guide to ferret ownership.

Rabbits (practical pet care) by TFH Publications
A fun, easy-to-reference guide that includes straightforward advice, colorful design, tip boxes, charts, and care instructions.

Good Rabbitkeeping by Sue Fox & TFH Publications
The most up-to-date complete daily care and health guide available.

Rabbits: Complete Care Guide by Virginia Parker Guidry
Get the basics: history, adopting a rabbit, setting up living space, and health. It has an especially helpful section on rabbit behavior and behavior challenges.

Rabbitlopaedia: A Complete Guide to Rabbit Care by Meg Brown & Virginia Richardson
A well-organized book that especially shines as a medical resource for the casual rabbit owner.

The Complete Guide to Rat Training by Debbie Ducommun & TFH Publications
A step-by-step format that covers a variety of topics: positive reinforcement, clicker training, tricks, and games.

Rats: Complete Care Guide by Debbie Ducommun
A quick glance at basic rat care and a great overview written by the famed "Rat Lady." It has lots of greatinformation.

The Mouse: An Owners Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet by Stephanie Shulman
Photos and illustrations highlight the external beauty of the animal. Copy covers senses, health, handling, housing, feeding, and selection of a mouse.

The Chinchilla Handbook by Sharon L. Vanderlip
Everything the new owner and veterinarian should know about chinchilla history, suitability as pets, anatomy, housing, feeding, behavior, and health care.

Chinchillas (Complete Pet Owner’s Manual) by Maike Roder-Thiede
A brief overview with bright photographs and basic care instructions for these unique creatures.

Chinchillas (Animal Planet Pet Care Library)by David Alderton
For the kid who wants to get serious about keeping a healthy chinchilla.

Proper Care of Guinea Pigs by Peter Gurney
A perfect blend of information and large color photos to educate you on choosing a guinea pig, routine care, preventive maintenance, and behavior.

A Grown-Up’s Guide to Guinea Pigs by Dale Sigler
Learn what they eat, how they behave, and even why two guinea pigs are better than one. The quick-start chapter is especially helpful for new owners.

Small Animal Books for Kids

These books are appropriate for kids in grades K-3.

10 Minutes to Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann
A countdown book with few words and lots of action. Detailed illustrations help kids learn numerals and the story will have them counting hamsters in their sleep.

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
This series follows the life of a classroom pet hamster, Humphrey, who narrates the story. His humorous, insightful comments prove that you can learn a lot about yourself by studying another species.

The Adventures of Fillmore the Gerbil by Emma Stewart
With Hurricane Katrina as the backdrop, watch how a little kindness can go a long way.

Bring Back My Gerbil! by Edith Tarbescu
A story that young readers quickly embrace, it makes learning fun for kids and adults.

Fergus Fabulous Ferret by Allison Prince
Martin wants a pet like his aunt has, a ferret. However, when he goes to stay with her, he realizes both the work involved and the love exchanged with this fun pet.

Farley the Ferret of Farkleberry Farm by Patricia Derrik
Taking fresh boysenberry jam and bread to the fair to share with the children is a joyful experience. What will happen when a drought hits Foley County?

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
A simple story about friends Mouse and Rabbit, who has a penchant for trouble. Watch as Rabbit launches his toy airplane with Mouse in the pilot seat.

Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell
Little Rabbit loves living in the city (her home, favorite café, and park), but sometimes she's just a little lonely. One night, as the moon shines brightly, Brown Rabbit appears.

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Three adorable mice find three jars of paint. Of course, they dive and explore mixing the paints to create wonderful colors.

Gorilla Chinchilla by Bert Kitchen
Rhymed text and illustrations compare animals whose names rhyme but are very different in habitat and appearance.

Super Guinea Pig to the Rescue by Udo Weigelt & Nina Spranger
Every day a little guinea pig tunes in to watch Super Guinea Pig save the world from evil and terrible disasters.

Great Big Guinea Pigs by Susan L. Roth
A fun exchange between a mother guinea pig who tells her child a goodnight story with a twist: their ancestors were giants as big as a buffalo.

Lizard Care Books

Red-Eared Sliders by Katrina Smith
The most common turtle found in home aquariums, red-eared sliders are great pets for both novice and experienced turtle keepers. Originally a native of warm climates, these semi-aquatic turtles love to bask in the sun when they aren’t foraging for food. Written by a turtle rescuer and rehabilitator, Red-Eared Sliders is an all-inclusive guide to caring for this popular turtle species.

Bearded Dragons by Tom Mazorlig
The author shares with the beginning keeper his knowledge and experiences with these charming lizards and covers all the problems likely to be faced. He also reveals the little tricks that will make keeping a Beardie all that much more enjoyable. He goes into details about setting up a terrarium suitable for Bearded Dragons and maintaining colonies of these lizards, including practical advice and instructions on care and breeding.

Leopard Geckos (Complete Herp Care) by Gerald Merker, Cindy Merker & Julie Bergman
Leopard Geckos are one of the most popular lizards in the hobby. Learn about housing, nutrition, health care and breeding of these reptiles and others in the same family, including fat-tailed and bearded geckos.

Green Anole Care (Quick & Easy) by Ray Hunziker
The Quick & Easy series features educational, value-priced books. All pet owners will benefit from reading the wide variety of titles in this series, each offering an abundance of advice ina delightfully concise format. Learn all about the compatibility of green anoles with other species of anoles and how to create a beautiful terrarium home for these popular reptiles.

Insect-Eating Lizards (Complete Herp Care) by Philip Purser
This complete guide discusses many popular species of insectivorous lizards- including pet shop staples such as tokay geckos, anoles, leopard geckos, and curly-tails- along with some less common species like basilisks and plated lizards. Species are arranges according to their habitat needs, making it simpler for hobbyists to provide their lizards with a proper environment.

Fish Care Books

Tetras and Barbs (Aquarium Success) by Randy Carey
Tetras and barbs are among the most popular community fish, with dozens of species readily available in pet and aquarium stores. Written by one of the leading experts on these groups of fish, this comprehensive guide features five important fish groups spanning hundreds of species and covers topics essential to aquarists interested in tetras and barbs such as feeding, water requirements, species, diseases, and breeding. Full-color photos, sidebars, charts, and tip boxes illustrate key points and nicely complement the informative text.

Clownfishes and Other Damselfishes (Aquarium Success) by Jeff Kurtz
Clownfishes and damselfishes are among the most popular aquarium species, particularly for beginning aquarists. Written by a recognized authority on marine ornamental fishes, this comprehensive guide covers topics essential to keepers of these beautiful aquatic pets including selection, feeding, water requirements, diseases, breeding, and more. Full-color photos show over 20 species of clownfish and damselfish, while sidebars, charts, and tip boxes illustrate key points to consider.