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Quick answer: If your child loves Old Yeller, try Fred Gipson's Savage Sam, then Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh, Sounder and The Yearling. All are moving stories about a boy and an animal that change his life.
Fred Gipson's 1956 Newbery Honor book follows fourteen-year-old Travis, left in charge of his family's Texas farm, who adopts a stray yellow dog that becomes his hero and protector. It is warm, tense and sad. The books below offer similar tales of loyalty, loss and growing up on the frontier or in the country.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savage Sam | Fred Gipson | Ages 10+ | the sequel |
| Where the Red Fern Grows | Wilson Rawls | Ages 10+ | boy and hounds |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | Ages 8-12 | rescued beagle |
| Sounder | William H. Armstrong | Ages 10+ | family and dog |
| The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings | Ages 10+ | boy and a fawn |
| Lassie Come-Home | Eric Knight | Ages 8-12 | long journey home |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | Ages 8-12 | a dog and a town |
| Hatchet | Gary Paulsen | Ages 10-14 | wilderness survival |
| The Call of the Wild | Jack London | All ages | wilderness classic |
| White Fang | Jack London | All ages | wolf-dog |
| Black Beauty | Anna Sewell | All ages | horse's story |
| A Dog's Purpose | W. Bruce Cameron | Adult | dog's lives |
| Island of the Blue Dolphins | Scott O'Dell | Ages 9-13 | survival |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George | Ages 9-13 | living in the wild |
| Charlotte's Web | E. B. White | Ages 6-12 | classic friendship |
1. Savage Sam by Fred Gipson
Travis's younger brother and a new dog face Apache raiders. Exciting and short.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
A boy in the Ozarks trains two coonhounds. Tearful and classic.
Best for: boy and hounds.
3. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A boy hides a mistreated beagle from its owner. Warm and moral.
Best for: rescued beagle.
4. Sounder by William H. Armstrong
A Black sharecropper family faces hardship, and a dog waits for its owner. Spare and sad.
Best for: family and dog.
5. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
A boy in Florida raises an orphaned fawn. Gentle and sad.
Best for: boy and a fawn.
6. Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight
A collie travels across Britain to return to her boy. Classic and moving.
Best for: long journey home.
7. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl and a stray dog bring people together. Gentle and funny.
Best for: a dog and a town.
8. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
A boy survives alone in the Canadian wilderness. Simple and gripping.
Best for: wilderness survival.
9. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
A dog is taken to the Yukon and must survive. Short and gripping.
Best for: wilderness classic.
10. White Fang by Jack London
A wolf-dog moves from the wild to civilisation. Rough and moving.
Best for: wolf-dog.
11. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
A horse tells the story of his life. A classic for animal lovers.
Best for: horse's story.
12. A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
A dog is reborn several times and searches for his purpose. Sweet and emotional.
Best for: dog's lives.
13. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
A girl survives alone on an island for years. Calm and powerful.
Best for: survival.
14. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
A boy runs away to live in the Catskills. Practical and absorbing.
Best for: living in the wild.
15. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
A spider saves a pig by weaving words. A timeless story of loyalty.
Best for: classic friendship.
How to Choose
For the sequel read Savage Sam. For other dog stories choose Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh or Lassie Come-Home. For historic hardship pick Sounder or The Yearling. For survival read Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain. Old Yeller has a sad ending, so read it together with younger children and be ready to talk. Old Yeller was adapted by Disney in 1957 and remains a classic family film, though the book is more tense and spare. Many teachers read it aloud to classes in upper elementary school.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Old Yeller about?
A boy on the Texas frontier bonds with a stray dog who protects his family.
Who wrote it?
Fred Gipson.
When was it published?
1956.
Did it win an award?
It was a Newbery Honor book in 1957.
Is it sad?
Yes, it has a famously sad ending.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 10 and up.
Is there a film?
Yes, Disney's 1957 film.
What should we read next?
Try Savage Sam or Where the Red Fern Grows.
Which book here is best for family and dog?
Try Sounder by William H. Armstrong, which suits readers looking for family and dog.
Which book here is best for a dog and a town?
Try Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, which suits readers looking for a dog and a town.
Which book here is best for wolf-dog?
Try White Fang by Jack London, which suits readers looking for wolf-dog.
Which book here is best for survival?
Try Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, which suits readers looking for survival.
Which book here is best for boy and hounds?
Try Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, which suits readers looking for boy and hounds.