Author’s Note: Shady Hollow is a tale of woodland creatures, and from time to time the contemplative reader may pause to wonder precidsely how a town funtions with foxes and rabbits as tenants of the same building, or how a mouse and a moose can chat eye to eye. Keep in mind, gentle reader, that this is a work of fiction. The characters’ resemblances to real creatures, alive or cruelly murdered, is incidental indeed. For those who feel compelled to resolve this issue before continuing with the story, you may wish to think of the characters merely as humans with particularly animalistic traits…in other words, just like you and me.

From Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Animals behaving like people! Aesop may have been an early author to create stories with animals representing people, but it’s still being done today.

Anthropomorphism is a literary device where the author creates non-human characters that literally walk on two legs, wear clothes and have human behaviors, wants and emotions. This writing tactic softens heavy or sensitive themes and makes abstract moral lessons easier to digest. It also enhances satire and comedy without judging or making fun of any actual people.

A bit of anthropomorphism happens in real life, as you have likely talked to your pet like it is human, like it felt particular emotionns.

If you loved Beatrix Potter, Brambley Hedge, Charlotte’s Web and stories by Thornton W. Burgess as a child, you just might like these books as an adult.

Animal Farm by George Orwell (political allegory, fable, satire) One friend said it left her with a feeling of awe at the wisdom it.

Watership Down by Richard Adams (adventure, social allegory) Some of my friends have read this with varying degrees of interest. This one might be a good read-aloud that you and your children enjoy together.

Shady Hollow, Cold Clay, Mirror Lake, and more in this series by Juneau Black (cozy mystery) Vera Vixen, the fox reporter must find who murdered Otto Sumpf, a loner toad who turns up dead in the millpond, and in so doing, exposes the secrets in the woodland village. I enjoyed this!

Redwall by James Brian Jacques (medieval fantasy, adventure)I’ve read the first few chapters and have heard glowing reviews from others.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham (pastoral literature, comedy of manners) A meandering friendship between Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger, that has no clear plot but keeps you reading none-the-less. Lovely prose.

Birdlife in Wington by J. Calvin Reid (devotional, comedy) Short stories (with morals) of birds behaving like people, with often comical results.

What titles would you add to this list? Tell us about them in the comments. -Liz