3 Reasons You Should Use Animal Characters in Your Children’s Book
Ben St. James shares three smart reasons animal characters shine in children’s books. From timeless appeal and emotional safety to helping young readers follow and remember the story, his advice breaks down when and why animals can be the better choice for your cast of characters.
How different critters enhance a story in the minds of young readers
Many children’s books put animals in the spotlight, from talking farmyard pigs to foxes and rabbits on grand adventures. But why are they such a common choice? And should your story follow this tradition, or would human characters be a better fit? Below are three practical reasons to consider making animals the stars of your children’s book.
1. Animals Can Appear Ageless
Humans and animals have very different life cycles. In fiction, an animal can exist in a kind of perpetual childhood without it seeming odd (Darling Axe, n.d.). If we are already imagining a gopher wearing suspenders and chatting with a bear, the question of whether they are five or fifty does not interrupt the story.
With human characters, it is harder to maintain that sense of timelessness. A ten-year-old who remains ten for an entire series may draw unwanted attention to the passage of time, making the setup feel unrealistic. This can disrupt the reader’s immersion and create inconsistency within the narrative. By using animals, an author avoids this problem entirely, allowing characters to live in a continuous present that serves the needs of the story.
2. Emotional Buffer
Animal characters create a natural separation between the story and the real world (Gravett, 2021). This allows an author to place characters in situations that might feel unsafe or distressing if they involved a human child, such as being alone in the wilderness or facing a dangerous challenge.
Children may not be able to articulate why a story about a human child in peril makes them uneasy, but they can still sense it. This discomfort can cause them to disengage from the book altogether. When the same events happen to a fox, rabbit, or hedgehog, the risk is softened; readers can experience the emotion of the moment while remaining secure in the knowledge that the events are part of an imagined world. This “emotional buffer” can help young readers explore fear, loss, and courage from a safe distance, making it easier for them to process the story’s lessons.
3. Memorable and Easy to Follow
Animals often stand out in memory, whether because of their unique sounds (“the pig that said oink”) or distinctive physical traits, such as an alligator’s long snout or a peacock’s colorful feathers. This can make it easier for young readers to remember characters and their roles in the plot.
Using different animal species also creates a natural visual and behavioral contrast between characters, helping children keep track of the cast without relying solely on names or dialogue cues. Research supports this idea. A study in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology found that in stories with human characters, older children consistently outperformed younger ones in recall tests. However, in stories with animal characters, first-year students performed on par with third-year students for story retention (Nyhout & O’Neill, 2013).
Final Thoughts
Not every children’s book needs to feature animals, and there are many wonderful human-led stories that connect with readers. However, if your target audience is on the younger side, animal characters can offer flexibility in age, a comfortable emotional distance, and enhanced memorability. All of these qualities can strengthen the connection between your story and its readers, making it more likely that the book will be loved and remembered.
References:
- Darling Axe. (n.d.). Animals or children? Writing for different audiences. Retrieved from https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/animals-or-children
- Gravett, E. (2021). Why animals are perfect for picture books. Pan Macmillan. Retrieved from https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/books-for-children/emily-gravett-on-animals-in-picture-books
- Nyhout, A., & O’Neill, D. K. (2013). Mothers’ complex talk when sharing books with their toddlers: Book genre matters. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 116(2), 362–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2013.07.004
About the Author
Ben St. James is a U.S. based author best known for his award-winning children’s book, Guinea Pig Power. With a background in cartooning and video game history, Ben has collaborated with over hundreds of creators, including TEDx speakers and Olympians.
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GUINEA PIG POWER: FUZZY HEROES
Join Fuzwald and Rex, two guinea pigs with a secret life! By day, they’re your cuddly pets, but when the moon rises, they transform into unlikely superheroes, thanks to a special lab-made treat. In this heartwarming and amusing rhyming story, follow their nighttime escapades as they tackle daring missions, rescue kittens, and maintain order in their tiny world. With impeccable disguises and unwavering courage, Fuzwald and Rex prove that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Enjoy this delightful tale that will tickle your funny bone and warm your heart, reminding us that even the smallest among us can be the mightiest heroes.
